2009, THE YEAR OF THE GORILLA

By Baluku Geoffrey

Kampala, Uganda

United Nations Environment Programme designated 2009 as the year of the Gorilla.

From the start of this year a lot of activities have already taken place and others are yet to be rolled out with an intention of creating awareness about Gorillas. They are endemic species and share 98.4% of their genetic material with humans. Gorillas, the largest of the Apes are divided into 4 sub species belonging to the western and eastern species.

The western species include the western lowland Gorilla (Gorilla gorilla gorilla) and the Cross river Gorilla (Gorilla gorilla diehl) while the eastern Gorilla species include the Mountain Gorillas (Gorilla beringei beringei) and the Eastern lowland Gorilla (Gorilla beringei graueri).

Renowned primatologist Dr. Jane Goodall who happens to be the patron of the initiative said in a statement, “it is time for us to pool all our resources towards saving these magnificent creatures”.

Uganda is so lucky to have over 50% of the Mountain gorilla population in Bwindi Impenetrable and Mgahinga Gorilla National Parks.

As an important partner in gorilla conservation, Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) will be officially launching the year of the gorilla on 17th April 2009. This will be done in partnership with the Association of Uganda Tour Operators (AUTO), local communities and other national and international organizations through which the public profile of gorillas will be raised, the wider public educated on the threats the gorillas face and also discuss the conservation status of these unique animals.

Year of the Gorilla

Gorilla tracking contributes over 70% of the revenues from tourism in Uganda. Despite the above contribution, they are a globally endangered species.

Ian Redmond, an expert at the UN Environment Program said: “The year of the Gorilla is not just about gorillas but their habitat”.

Their habitats are continually being impacted by growing human population and have lately become victims of armed conflicts especially in the neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo.

It is in line with this that the year of the gorilla is intended to encourage practical, easily manageable strategic approaches to gorilla conservation.

The public is there fore encouraged to take part in these activities which will culminate in a very big event later in the year.

UGANDA TOURISM NOT READY FOR EAST AFRICAN COMMON MARKET

By Baluku Geoffrey

Kampala, Uganda

Uganda by common consent of travelers continues to be one of the most beautiful countries in the world. The country not only has a great diversity and profusion of wildlife species but has also had 23 years of dramatic tourism growth. It is not only home to the highest number of mountain gorillas but has also been voted the number one birding destination in Africa.

The tourism sector is however faced with a number of challenges ranging from high cost of finance and constrained access to credit to inadequate opportunities to support technological transfer and low bargaining and lobbying capacity. This is yet to be compounded with a new challenge of the planned common market for the five East African countries.

Tourism in Uganda is known to be built on the natural and cultural resources which are usually the few assets owned by the poor. With the integration of East Africa and planned common market, the poor especially those in tourism related enterprises may end up being pushed out of business. The Ugandan market will for instance be flooded with Kenya and Tanzanian products such as crafts which will in way over shadow our own.

There is an Asian saying that goes, “Tourism is like a fire, you can cook your food with it or it can burn your house down”. It is clear that Uganda has not yet reached the level of Kenya and Tanzania.

Considering the limited facilities characterized by monopolies in Ugandan National parks, opening up the tourism sector to the East African common market may worsen the already fragile industry. Assuming many companies with a strong financial base such as Somak entered the Ugandan market, they would eventually control the entire tour operation business which would make conflict inevitable.

Government should handle the planned process of a common market in phases. This can be done in consultation with the tourism industry players. What is happening at the moment is that industry players have been left at the periphery of the whole negotiation process.

Irrespective of the capitalistic ideas, there is need for an element of “protectionism” for the Ugandan industry players. There is also need for standardization of tourism products and the fast implementation of the Tourism Act prior to opening up to the East African Common market.

Locals need to be empowered so that they are able to compete with counter parts in Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda and Burundi. If this is not done, then conflict will always arise.

Economic Recession, Competition hits Kenya's Tourism

By Trek East Africa Safaris Correspondent

NAIROBI, KENYA

Fluctuating fuel prices coupled with post election chaos and competition affected Kenya's rankings in 2008.

The Managing Director Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) Mr. Julius Kipngetich warned last Tuesday that the country’s key source markets were under severe attack from key competitors. He said that there was need for the government to defend Kenya's existing markets at this particular time of the global recession.

Kipngetich further said that, “Kenya's forays into China and other countries should hold because these markets are also under serious attack by several competitors, especially Tanzania.

Details of Kenya’s performance at the just concluded ITB exhibition held in Berlin, Germany remained scanty; Kipngetich said he would brief the media in the coming days.

Najib Balala, the Tourism minister who led the ITB delegation said most prospective tourists were still skeptical of the country’s security given the negative media reports in light of the return of the ‘Mungiki Sect’ ritual killings.

However, the Chairperson of the Kenya Tourism Federation Ms. Lucy Karume, revealed that Kenya’s four biggest markets USA, UK, Italy and Germany accounted for 38% of the revenue earned from Tourism, which equaled to all the other 23 destinations. This she said, "shows why Kenya's source markets cannot be replaced by numbers from the emerging markets”.

Different tourism players in Kenya have proposed that government comes up with a stimulus package for the airline industry and also improve on the product pricing.

Kipngetich also noted the need for the re-capitalization of the Kenya Tourism Development Corporation (KTDC) that could be used to finance the construction of new lodges in the country since according to him banks do not lend money to tourism investments that usually have long term pay back periods.

More Tourists in 2008, though a decline is evident in 2009

By Baluku Geoffrey,

Kampala, Uganda

A total of 844,000 foreigners visited Uganda in 2008, representing a 32% increase over 2007. As a key contributor to Uganda’s GDP tourism accounted for 3.7% of the total. Despite this increase, it is clear that Uganda’s tourism industry is now facing difficult times as a result of the financial melt down.

The tourism industry is especially vulnerable to financial slow downs with consumers spending less on travel products and experiences in the short and medium terms. Expenditure on accommodation and Gorilla Permits, Uganda’s trump card has decreased drastically as visitors choose more affordable safari options.

There was growing optimism that Uganda would soon achieve the 1 million foreign visitor mark by 2012. However, with the current economic melt down experienced globally and domestically, the effect on Uganda’s tourism industry is likely to be worse.

The unstable fuel costs and fluctuating dollar rate means that long-haul tourism is on the decline, particularly for middle income tourists. This has already had an effect on Uganda’s tourism industry.

As long haul travel becomes increasingly unaffordable, the integration of the East African region is now paramount for the region to achieve its tourism targets. However, reasonable controls such as some degree of protection for the Ugandan tour operators should be taken into consideration as we go into the final stages of the East African re integration.

The drop in visitors from all major source markets including UK and USA is now evident. According to research firm Trip Advisor, 58% of UK consumers are likely to or have already been influenced by the economic down town when it comes to choosing a holiday this year.

Tour operators in Uganda must now guard, at all costs, against pricing itself out of the global market as this destination now competes, on affordability levels, with Kenya, Tanzania and Rwanda.

With the deepening of the global financial crisis and economic slowdown, there is a rise of new challenges ranging from safari cancellations to souring inflation rates now believed to have settled at 14.8%.

These challenges thus call for a cash injection so as to help in facilitating tourism research, marketing and work force issues for the better of Uganda’s Tourism industry.