The Minister of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities, Prof Ephraim Kamuntu has appealed to local media to do more in amplifying Uganda’s tourist attractions.
He made the call on Wednesday while launching this year’s Tourism Expo slated to take place from February 23 to 25 at the Sheraton Kampala Gardens.
Organized by the Uganda Tourism Board (UTB), the annual expo showcases Uganda’s tourism products and services by domestic businesses.
The three day event will bring together over 100 international players in the tourism business including tour operators, suppliers, international press, agents, hoteliers, partners, destination managers and other service providers to exhibit and make new networks
“To our media professionals, publishing well written and engaging articles about the Pearl of Africa Tourism Expo will go a long way in motivating both domestic and foreign travelers to enjoy the best of it,” the Minister said.
Kamuntu noted that the media has a critical contribution to make towards informing Ugandans about the value of tourism, and influencing foreigners to visit by telling the positive story of the country.
He also challenged journalists to travel around the country so as to write from an informed perspective on how much Uganda has to offer in terms of nature and cultural diversity.
“Tourism is a primary sector in this country. As such, the media should know how sensitive tourism is. The issue of perception is as a result of what you write,” he cautioned, pointing out the common habit of sensational reporting.
“If a person boxes another one along Kampala Road, you don’t have to report it as an outbreak of riots in Kampala. As government, we can do as much as we can to market Uganda but those efforts can be watered down by a single stroke of a pen,” the Minister said.
UTB’s Executive Director, Steven Asiimwe noted that POATE is an opportunity for Uganda to sale its unique diversity that is well spread across the country.
He said that previous expos have increased Uganda’s visibility in foreign press, the interest in the destination by foreign buyers as well as tourist arrivals from neighbouring countries.
Former Minister of Ethics, Nsaba Buturo who attended the media launch emphasize Minister Kamuntu’s appeal, asking News Editors in Uganda to desist from advancing political interests that tarnish the image of Uganda and consequently hurt its tourism. He urged for a new breed of journalists that put the country first.
“Our media should stop taking interest in embarrassing the country. If journalists are advancing political interests at the expense of the image of Uganda, they are scoring an own goal,” he said.
Alluding to grown economies such as the Unites States of America, Buturo said that despite the high rates of criminality along with other negative events, the press in these countries have mastered the art of keeping these news stories way from foreign audiences. Digital Marketing and Website Design Services