News about the current Corona Virus Diseases (COVID-19) has taken troll worldwide. Every other day, key decisions are being taken by countries and authorities to cub down the fast spreading virus. Among the key decisions that have been under taken by the government of Uganda is restricting visitors from main virus struck countries and quarantining visitors for a period of at least 14 days. This has come with a big impact on Ugandan tourism industry.
The coronavirus outbreak that was first affirmed at the end of last year (December 2019) in Wuhan, China, has hit Uganda’s biggest foreign exchange earner with sector players making continuous losses amid growing fears of a pending global economic crisis.
Tour operators across Uganda are decrying the less phone calls coming through from tourist correspondents, foiled emails and more so, some of the tourists that could have earlier booked hotel accommodation and other services are cancelling reservations and demanding refund. Flights have drastically reduced with some countries having passed out a total ban and jobs lost as airlines struggle to cope with a decline in demand blamed on coronavirus outbreak that has turned in a global pandemic.
Basing on prior statistics, Uganda’s tourism sector contributes to about 7.7 per cent to GDP per annum and $1.6b (about Shs6 trillion) to Uganda’s export earnings implying that it’s the country’s highest foreign income earner. However, with the coronavirus outbreak, the 10 per cent earlier projected growth is highly doubtable.
Recently, while commenting about the impact of the Corona virus outbreak so far, Ms Kelly Mc Tavish, the MD Pearl of Africa Tours Limited, referred to the current state as “horrible”.
“The phones have stopped ringing, the emails are not coming through, and those who booked are cancelling. This is just one of the worst things that has happened to us,” Ms MacTavish lamented. She added that the company projects severe financial impacts if this state doesn’t calm down.
Mr Martin Owino, a member of the tours manager’s Association also said that up to 20 per cent of tourists have cancelled their bookings in the last six days since government announced major restraints. “More than 160 tourists, each paying an average of $2500 (Shs9.2m), have cancelled their travel because of the restrictions,” Mr Owino said.
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