The airports targeted for improvement are those located close to the major national parks and protected areas.
The Minister of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities, Tom Butime, announced yesterday, Wednesday, April 27, that the directive came directly from President Yoweri Museveni.
“Following the Presidential directive last week, the sector received government assurance on the refurbishment of the regional airports in close proximity to national parks and the coding of these airports recommended, to avoid landing at Entebbe International Airport,” Minister Butime said.
Butime was speaking at the launch of the Pearl of Africa Tourism Expo which is being held at the Commonwealth Speke Resort in Munyonyo.
The idea, according to the minister, is expand the airports so they are able to handle larger jet engine aircraft such as private jets.
This, he says, would enable rich tourists to fly directly from their counties to the regional airports without having to stop at Entebbe International Airport.
“If the directive is implemented, tourists will now be able to land on these attractions in their private jets,” he said.
“In other words, you can fly from Dubai directly to Kasese, then you can drive directly to Bwindi/Mgahinga. You can fly to Masindi and drive direct to Murchison falls National Park, Nwoya, Oyam and those areas which surround the park.”
The Minister however, did not mention the number of airports to be overhauled and the project timeline.
Uganda has over 25 regional airports. Some of those close to national parks and game reserves include Kisoro Airport, Kasese Airport, Moroto Airport, Pakuba Airfield, Mbarara Airport, Masindi Airfield among others.
At the tourism expo, Minister Butime revealed that sector is projecting in a few years to double its earnings from the current $1.4billion, and called on the sector players improve their facilities.