Uganda tourism branding in 6 countries boosts arrivals for pre-Covid performance

The report shows that Uganda received about 814,508 international visitor arrivals. This record represented a 59 percent increase from the -47.8 percent the previous year.

This performance generated about Shs2.7 trillion representing 12.2 percent of total exports and 41.4 percent of service exports.

Following disruptions from Covid-19, international arrivals fell sharply from close to 1.5 million to 473,085 by 2021.

Performance in figures

Accommodation, food and beverages, passenger transport, and shopping took 68.8 percent share of inbound expenditure

International tourists stayed for an average of 7.6 nights in the country resulting in a total of 6.5 million bed nights.

Friends and relatives provided the largest share of accommodation, which stood at 33.5 percent.

International visitors spent 10 times more per day compared to domestic visitors.

96.7 percent of the arrival were tourists while 3.8 percent were visitors or excursionists.

Africa arrivals performance

Africa remained the largest source of Uganda’s tourists, contributing at least 87.8 percent of international arrivals.

This included countries Kenya which contributed 376,294 arrivals, Rwanda contributed 158,523, South Sudan contributed 59,602, Tanzania contributed 26,932 and Eritrea contributed 26,524.

Rwanda had the most improved arrivals in Africa, followed by Ghana and Somalia.

International arrivals performance

Europe dropped to the third position.

America dropped to the fourth position.

Asia rose in the ranks to second position contributing 4.9 percent of arrivals.

Australia also had the most improved international arrivals.

Basil Ajer, the Ministry of Tourism director of tourism, said Uganda had done well in marketing, which saw international visitors return to Uganda.

“We rolled out the Uganda brand and explore Uganda in Kenya, the US, Spain, the UK, Morocco, and Tanzania which brought back these people,” he said.