President Yoweri Museveni wants Ugandans to use tourism as a tool to communicate to the world that Uganda is a peaceful country.
Uganda on Friday joined the world to celebrate the World Tourism Day. The national celebrations were held at Nyakasanga play ground in Kasese municipality.
In the President’s message that was read by the Minister of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities, Col Tom R Butiime, Museveni said tourism plays and continues to play a critical role in rebuilding communities, restoring hope and fostering peace.
He noted that it is through revamping tourism activities that the regions are able to recover, create jobs, rebuild infrastructure and offer the local people a bright future.
The President also said that the government had invested a lot of resources in improving tourism and through different campaigns they have enhanced awareness of the region’s tourism potentials.
Museveni applauded the local leadership of Kasese and the entire region for their unwavering support of integrating tourism into development planning.
The Permanent Secretary at the Minister of Tourist, Aquatics and Wildlife Doreen Katusiime said that in a world often marked with division and conflict, tourism acts as a beacon of hope bringing people together and fostering reconciliation.
She said tourism can only flourish if there is peace.
The Netherlands Ambassador to Uganda Frederieke Quispel said there was a need for Uganda to invest more in critical infrastructure that promotes sustainable tourism and peace such as transport and communication infrastructure.
She noted the need to have cross-border cooperation and work with the local community to conserve nature.
The Kasese District leadership reminded government of its pledge to uplift Kasese airfield to an international airport to further open up the region to the world.
Muhindi Bukombi Eliphazi, the District Chairperson said tourism can go far in connecting Kasese to the world and thus wanted government to upgrade the airfield and better the access routes into the Rwenzori mountains.
This year’s theme was, tourism and peace.
The celebrations will be followed by a two days explore Rwenzori expedition.
