Uganda Tourism Board has today kicked off the inspection of hotels to ensure compliance of the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) put in place by the Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities in the wake of COVID-19.
The SOPs aim to provide health and safety protocols for all s hotel and accommodation facilities and create confidence amongst domestic and international visitors as Uganda readies herself for tourism revitalisation in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Addressing media, Hon. Minister of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities, Godfrey Kiwanda noted that the inspection was a critical part of the recovery process for Uganda’s tourism sector. He said, “Today, we kick off the inspection of the implementation of the SOPs. This exercise not only demonstrates the steps being taken by Uganda’s tourism sector in readiness and recovery but the commitment by both government and private sector to ensure the safety of both our citizens and tourists.”
According to a recent report released by the UN World Travel Organisation, health and safety will be a key determinant for travel by tourists across the world as the global industry recovers.
“In addition to maintaining the recommended health and safety measures of social distancing, sanitisation and wearing of masks, every hotel will going forward be required to have an isolation room, formulate an on-ground emergency task force and have a COVID-19 resource center accessible to all,” Kiwanda said.
UTB Deputy CEO, Bradford Ochieng, who also addressed the media highlighted that the board in fulfilling of its mandate ensures quality assurance across all tourism facilities and ensuring implementation of the SOPs is a key strategy in the revitalization of the sector and ensuring safety and confidence of the visitors- a key decision making factor in travel, going forward.
“Ours is a promise that quality assurance in Uganda’s tourism facilities will upheld across travel, accommodation, amenities and experience,” Ochieng said.
He noted that UTB was in the process of developing a tourism sector recovery plan that is hoped to rebirth the sector.
The Chairlady of the Uganda Hotel Owners Association, Ms. Susan Muhwezi, called on the association members and the hospitality sector to uphold the SOPs put in place by the Ministry of Tourism Wildlife and Antiquities.
She said, “We understand that hotels have had to increase their operational costs to fit into what is now the new normal that led to the creation of the tourism Sector SOPs. We are hopeful that the government will support private sector investment in this process through the stimulus package. This will go a long way in support the recovery of our hospitality sector.
The inspection will traverse the whole country starting with Kampala City and Entebbe town this week.
In his closing remarks, Hon. Kiwanda noted the key role played the hospitality sector since the COVID-19 pandemic broke out in Uganda. He said that hotels supported the institutional quarantining process and acted as the model centers for the hospitality SOPs which are key in the quality and health assurance of our hospitability sector.
About Uganda Tourism Board
Uganda Tourism Board (UTB) is a statutory organisation established in 1994 mandated to promote and market Uganda domestically, across the region and internationally, promote quality assurance in tourist facilities through training, grading and classification, promote tourism investment, support and act as liaison for the private sector in tourism development.
The broader goals of the Board are to increase the contribution of tourism earnings and GDP; improve Uganda’s competitiveness as an international tourism destination; and increase Uganda’s share of Africa’s and World tourism market.
UTB aims to create inclusive opportunities for the tourism sector through market transformation. For more information, please visit; www.utb.go.ug
