World Bank Releases US$6.7 Million to Boost Uganda's Tourism Sector

Tourism Minister Ephraim Kamuntu

 

The World Bank has released 24.5 billion Ugandan Shillings (US$6.7m) to boost Uganda's tourism sector according to Uganda's tourism minister Ephraim Kamuntu, as per reports by local news website, Newvision.co.ug.

According to the report, Mr Kamuntu indicated this during a graduation ceremony of 364 students at the Uganda Hotel and Tourism Training Institute (UHTTI) in Jinja on Thursday.

He explained that the money will only be allocated to re-develop and upgrade the Uganda Hotel and Tourism Training Institute and Crested Crane Hotel to an international level.

“In 1994, the Government specified the hotel and tourism training institute as the institute with the basic requirements to train students in hotel management and tourism. So, the government got a loan to upgrade the institute to a three-star modern and an international hotel and training institute,” Kamuntu said.

The three-star hotel will include training kitchens, training restaurants, language laboratories, hotel bedrooms and other training facilities.

Mr Kamuntu further explained: “The tourism sector for 2015-2020 focuses on unlocking the consequences in the sector, mostly in human resource management. Tourism contributes nearly 10% of GDP and it is the top exchange sector in the country and it brings a lot of money to the country than even Agriculture,” Kamuntu revealed.

The 7th Annual Tourism Sector Performance Report indicates that more than one million Ugandans are employed in the tourism sector.

Credit: Newvision.co.ug