Tapping into the Unsung Potential of Tourist Attractions for Development in Selected Municipalities in Uganda

Abstract

The tourism sector (TS) in Uganda is predominantly nature-based with the potential to easily affect fragile ecosystems. The sector is the top exchange earner, employs a significant proportion of
the workforce, especially the unskilled, and contributes to the conservation of natural and cultural
heritage sites. Therefore, if not managed properly, which must be preceded by documentation, the TS
could lead to the destruction of the very resources upon which it depends. The concept of
sustainability has often been used to indicate the need to ensure that tourism is developed in such a
way that it minimizes the negative impacts. Inspired by the government’s current drive to develop
tourism cities, in this paper, we analyze the unsung/untouched paradise potential of tourist attractions
(UPTA) in three purposively selected municipalities in Uganda. We use the concepts of attractions,
activities, and sustainability in a broader sense. The results are based on an extensive study of
documents, unstructured interviews, and observations. Our findings indicate that the three
municipalities studied have a variety of UPTA that have the potential to contribute to the social,
economic, environmental, and institutional essentials of sustainability. The UPTA also has a strong
multiplier effect of creating jobs for marginalized groups and providing opportunities for designing
inclusive institutions and policies. Such findings re-affirm that broadening the scope of sustainability
and attractions beyond their physical references re-asserts the importance of UPTA amidst the current
criticisms. This means increased livelihoods for not only the youth and women but also adults with
high prospects to enhance household incomes. Furthermore, tapping into the UPTA contributes to
revenue generation and foreign exchange earnings in the country.