With this in mind, Uganda is currently working towards ISO certification in tourism, and all of these measures are part of that effort. We take it very seriously. We are working closely with government and private partners to ensure every standard is met so that we can achieve that ISO seal of quality, In fact, to ensure high standards are maintained throughout our national parks in particular, we are working with Uganda Police. They will investigate adherence to our measures locally and take action against anyone breaking them. For example, if a hotel or lodge advertises itself as four-star, customers want to see four-star amenities such as a swimming pool and bar. If it doesn’t meet the standard, police can investigate. We want every visitor to have confidence of our international standards. At the same time as ISO certification, we are also currently talking to various global tourism bodies about membership. Uganda is already a member of regional tourism trade associations such as East Africa Community, which offers a unique opportunity opening Uganda, Kenya and Rwanda up to tourists on a single visa. However, we are now talking with the UN World Tourism Organization and the World Travel & Tourism Council. Becoming a member of these trade organisations is important to us much in the same way that attaining ISO certification is: it shows our international standards. Right now we’re currently gathering the
measurements index from them in order to begin the process of association. While our national parks and wildlife are our most impressive attractions, there are also plenty of other things to see and do here. Jinja, for example, is the place to visit for adrenaline junkies. Along the banks of the Nile, which runs through Jinja district, there are plenty of companies offering activities such as bungee jumping, white water rafting, fishing, hot air ballooning, horse riding, quad biking and many other intense adventures. Meanwhile, Mount Elgon is our hub for sports tourism. It’s where athletes that want high altitude training go to. You can also visit the Kichwamba escarpment, which has a community tourism initiative to help the local tribe benefit from the tourist industry. We recently also opened the Uganda Cycling Trail, an epic 1600 kilometre trail comprised of four trails and 22 stages. Ultimately, we know Uganda has as much to offer tourists as it has to offer the people that live here. That’s why we want to share it with the world. Furthermore, by doing so, we can benefit economically in a time when the world is re-opening after the pandemic. The Uganda Tourism Board is doing everything we can to ensure that every visitor has the best possible time here that they can and that they’ll want to return to Uganda again and again.
