Early this month, H.E Gen. President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni upon lifting on the Covid-19 lockdown in Uganda that had been put in place since March 18th 2020, reopened some sectors of the economy as of June 1st, that had been closed for months long and among them comprised the Country’s biggest foreign exchange earner; the Tourism and Hospitality Industry that was worse affected as no tourist whether local or international would be allowed to traverse the different naturally endowed places of Uganda (Tourism sites) which are major drivers for the hospitality business in the Country hence affecting the Tourism and Hospitality value chain and upon restarting the sector, several Covid-19 preventive measures and Standard Procedures (SOP’s) were to be mandatory so as to avoid new coronavirus infections in the sector.
The Uganda Tourism Board (UTB) together with sister Agencies; Uganda Hotel Owners Association (UHOA), Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities (MTWA), Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) among several other stakeholders combined efforts to reactivate the Tourism and Hospitality value chain in partnership with the Private sector and Standard Operating Procedures (SOP’s) as guidelines were to be mandatory towards a successful recovery of the once feared to have collapsed Tourism and Hospitality sector.
On Tuesday this week, the Uganda Tourism Board (UTB), a statutory organisation established in 1994 mandated to promote and market destination Uganda domestically, across the region and internationally, promote quality assurance in tourist facilities through training, grading and classification, promote tourism investment, support and act as liaison for the private sector in tourism development – started off a massive roll-out exercises to inspect Tourism facilities nationwide and to ensure all tourism and hospitality facilities comply to the Standard Operating Procedures for all visitors to their sites. The rollout plan started with Kampala’s Five star hotels including; Naguru Skyz Hotel and Golden Tulip Hotel in Nakasero, Kampala Uganda. The team will be visiting Entebbe Tourism facilities including sites and hotels on Wednesday June 24th 2020 before cross checking with other facilities all-round the different districts in Uganda under the board’s quality assurance program.
The SOP’s aim to provide health and safety protocols for all s hotel and accommodation facilities and create confidence amongst domestic and international visitors as Uganda readies herself for tourism revitalisation in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Addressing media, Hon. Minister of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities, Godfrey Kiwanda noted that the inspection was a critical part of the recovery process for Uganda’s tourism sector.
He revealed that, “Today, we kick off the inspection of the implementation of the SOPs. This exercise not only demonstrates the steps being taken by Uganda’s tourism sector in readiness and recovery but the commitment by both government and private sector to ensure the safety of both our citizens and tourists.”
According to a recent report released by the UN World Travel Organisation, health and safety will be a key determinant for travel by tourists across the world as the global industry recovers.
“In addition to maintaining the recommended health and safety measures of social distancing, sanitisation and wearing of masks, every hotel will going forward be required to have an isolation room, formulate an on-ground emergency task force and have a COVID-19 resource center accessible to all,” Kiwanda said.
UTB Deputy CEO, Bradford Ochieng, who also addressed the media highlighted that the board in fulfilling of its mandate ensures quality assurance across all tourism facilities and ensuring implementation of the SOPs is a key strategy in the revitalization of the sector and ensuring safety and confidence of the visitors- a key decision making factor in travel, going forward.
“Ours is a promise that quality assurance in Uganda’s tourism facilities will upheld across travel, accommodation, amenities and experience,” Ochieng said.
He further stated that, UTB was in the process of developing a tourism sector recovery plan that is hoped to rebirth the sector. The Chairlady of the Uganda Hotel Owners Association, Ms. Susan Muhwezi, called on the association members and the hospitality sector to uphold the SOPs put in place by the Ministry of Tourism Wildlife and Antiquities.
She said, “We understand that hotels have had to increase their operational costs to fit into what is now the new normal that led to the creation of the tourism Sector SOPs. We are hopeful that the government will support private sector investment in this process through the stimulus package. This will go a long way in support the recovery of our hospitality sector.
Hon. Kiwanda noted the key role played the hospitality sector since the COVID-19 pandemic broke out in Uganda. He said that hotels supported the institutional quarantining process and acted as the model centers for the hospitality SOPs which are key in the quality and health assurance of our hospitability sector.
What’s next for the Tourism Sector in Uganda Post Covid-19?
As a road to recovery after months long of total closure, the Tourism sector was the most hit hard industry by the novel Coronavirus global pandemic as no international air travel for tourism activities was allowed while all Country’s across the World closed of all entry points so as to curb high rate spread of new infections which would lead to mass deaths.
Currently, Tourism activities in East Africa are gradually reopening though focus will be on regional and domestic tourism. Uganda therefore joins Countries like Rwanda and Tanzania who recently restarted tourism activities while Rwanda and Tanzania will accommodate international tourists upon observing high level Standards of Procedure as all visitors before travel will have to submit their Covid-19 results within 72 before travel to the immigration desks and those that test positive will not be allowed access into the Countries. Uganda’s recovery plan is simple, domestic tourism is the main priority while Entebbe Airport and all porous border entry points remain sealed off from international travelers.
The Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities together with sister agencies in partnership with the private sector are rolling out a plan to promote domestic tourism while the Industry looks forward to a successful slow but sure recovery.
Read more about Standard Operating Procedures for the hospitality enterprises during the covid-19 outbreak via https://bit.ly/2zXMb11
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