Tuesday 2 December 2014

Uganda beats Spain in UK tourism opinion poll


Tourists tour Murchison Falls National Park recently. Ugandans are encouraged to promote the country’s tourism sites

Kampala- A poll conducted online by the Guardian, a UK news website, has revealed that Uganda is a better holiday destination than Spain.
Seventy-nine per cent of the people that participated in the poll said they would rather visit Uganda than go to Spain.

According to the website, President Museveni said tourism in Uganda goes beyond chimpanzees and criticised tourism officials in the country for not doing enough to promote the many attractions in the country.

“The biggest problem with tourism is poor promotion. In Europe, people go to the Mediterranean coast. I visited Spain; it is very hot and humid in summer. I think Uganda would be a better destination than some of those destinations,” the President said.

Mr Amos Wekesa, the proprietor of the Great Lakes Safaris, said the poll is a good thing for the country and will help boost the tourism sector.
He urged all Ugandans to rally behind the President to help in promoting and popularising the tourism sector.

Mr Wekesa said Ugandans should not leave this to the tourism board only but be proud about their country and promote it.

Uganda’s tourism sector employs more than half a million people in the country and contributes to 8 per cent of the country’s GDP, a number which he said can go much higher if everyone put effort in the advertising the country.

According to the Guardian, the country drew international displeasure after the passing of anti-homosexuality legislation in February. However, court has since declared it null and void.

The Ebola outbreak in West Africa has also turned off international visitors from visiting the continent.

However, some contributors defended their preference, saying they would visit the country because of the people and for adventure.
THE COMMENTS

Guyeverton: “Of course, I don’t support the Ugandan discrimination of homosexuals, but is it a reason not to visit? I’ve thought for a while about visiting Israel - does the fact I despise its State affect whether I could visit it, speak with people there, go and find some different stories to the ones you read constantly in the news?”
WhetherbyPond: “I have lived there[Uganda], it is a wonderful country, with warm, welcoming people, it is an amazingly culturally rich and diverse place and the landscapes are breathtaking. I would recommend it to anybody.”

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