TOURISM: A CHANGING INDUSTRY IN UGANDA

ABSTRACT This is a commentary on the tourist attractions Uganda offers as well as the facilities available for tourists to comfortably travel and reside in the country. Liberal economic policies put in place since the late 1980s and the prevailing peace in most parts of the country have contributed to a number of changes in the Tourism Industry. The number of National Parks has shot up from four in 1986 to the current ten. In order to enable local people get interested in tourism, they are encouraged to participate in the industry by working as guides and will soon be able to get a percentage of the revenue from the industry. The Government has become very strict on poachers and encroachers. Gorilla viewing has been given priority since 1993 as it contributes half of the earnings from Tourism. As a sign of improvement in the Tourism sector of the economy, the number of tourists and the earnings have progressively increased since 1986.