Uganda has been ranked in the 7th position among the 20 African countries with less travel restrictions for tourists. Following the 2019 Hospitality Report Africa, Uganda the pearl of Africa is the 7th African country that doesn’t sent away visitors who don’t meet visa requirements. Mauritius ranked in the first position with Benin in the second followed by Rwanda, Guinea Bissau, Togo, Cape Verde, Uganda, Mozambique, Seychelles, Mauritania and many more. Today, tourists on Uganda safari can get Uganda visa on arrival or book it in advance prior their actual trip.
Uganda is comprised of 10 national parks, each of which has something unique for tourists on safari to explore and experience. Because of its openness, tourists on Uganda safari have a chance to take part in gorilla trekking-an exceptional primate adventure that draws trekkers close to a group of mountain gorillas while in the wild; chimpanzee tracking, golden monkey tracking, mountaineering, game viewing, birding, cultural tours, hiking to mention but a few. Uganda is a home to 5050 chimpanzees, a section of mountain gorillas that live in only three countries (Uganda, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo), 1080 bird species; big African game (Lions including tree climbing lions, leopards, elephants, buffaloes and rhinos.
Africa in general ranked second after Asia Pacific as the fastest growing tourism region on earth. Over 67 million international tourist arrivals was registered which indicated 7 percent rise in 2018 unlike 63 million that was recorded in 2017 and 58 million in 2016. This contributed about 8.5 percent of the GDP in 2018 approximately $194.2 billion in 2018 an increase from 8.1 percent in 2017 and 7.8 percent in 2016.
Morocco and South Africa still ranked as the leading tourist destinations with record of about 11 and 10 million arrivals each year respectively. According to the report, the travel and tourism industry provided employment opportunities to over 24.3 million people in 2018 alone both directly and indirectly, representing about 6.7 percent of the total employment. Leisure still features as an essential component in the tourism sector in African continent, accounting for about 71 percent of the tourist expenditure in 2018.
Most African governments including Rwanda, South Africa and Kenya have embarked on product diversification through Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE). Business expenditure represented about 29 percent in 2018 a drop of about 1 percent from 30 percent in 2017. According to Estelle Verdier-the Head of Travel at Jumia Group, a boost in economic benefits in Africa is expected to register positive results due to the African Continental Free Trade Area which in long will increase the intra-regional business. A free trade area comes with a lot of benefits as more people get a chance to travel across borders. Through this, more business travel can be registered more so the MICE sector since businesses look to attract regional partnerships and investments. Free movement doesn’t only boost business travel but also leisure travel as well as medical tourism can be enhanced significantly.
In summary, Uganda is of no doubt one of the leading safari destinations in Africa. Visit this magical landlocked country and you won’t be left in regrets.
