There is no doubt that the hardest hit industry by the Coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic has been tourism, however several destinations have already started working towards a recovery and revitalization of the industry.
One of such is the East African country, Uganda, the Pearl of Africa. The body in charge of tourism, the Uganda Tourism Board has said that it is expecting that it will take 18 months for the industry to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Talking to the press and select travel agents through video conferencing, Lilly Ajarova, CEO, Uganda Tourism Board, said that the country had enforced lockdown well before the first case of COVID-19 was reported on its soil to arrest its spread.
“Currently, we are following the WHO guidelines along with the directives issued by our Ministry of Health to ensure adequate measures are taken for tourist safety. As per our Presidential order, it is mandatory to wear masks in public areas. We are looking at an 18-month period for recovery and are preparing the same. It is an on-going process,” she said.
The CEO informed that the country will gradually lift border restrictions and all incoming tourists will have to undergo a health screening. “We are also training our tourist guides, hotels and restaurants on the permissible limit of guests per vehicle and in dining areas to maintain social distancing measures.”
A relatively new entrant in the tourism space, Uganda is looking as positioning itself as a preferred destination in Africa, especially for Gorilla trekking with its competitive pricing. “Uganda is a land of diverse offerings from wildlife, adventure, history & culture and natural wonders.”
Source: TravelBizMonitor.com
