Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | At least 2,533 people have signed a petition to stop the planned construction of a power dam near Murchison Falls, which could see the disappearance of the falls, a key attraction to the area. This overshoots the petitioner’s target of 2,500 people. The petition was …
Read More »NASA to open International space station to tourists from 2020
New York, United States | AFP | NASA said Friday it will open up the International Space Station to business ventures including space tourism as it seeks to financially disengage from the orbiting research lab. Price tag? Tens of millions of dollars for a round trip ticket and $35,000 a night. …
Read More »Maracha district officials root for Miriaadua falls upgrade
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Officials in Maracha district have asked the Government to upgrade Miriandua Waterfalls, along the Arua – Koboko road to an International Tourism Site. The area first came into the limelight three years ago during an inspection tour by district officials who uncovered a beautiful …
Read More »Facelift helps Morocco’s old city of Fez lure tourists
Fez, Morocco | AFP | In recent times the imperial city of Fez has been overlooked by tourists in favour of Marrakesh, but now Morocco’s “spiritual” capital is bustling with visitors due to major renovations and low-cost flights. “It is an open air museum, with the largest pedestrian zone in the …
Read More »Poaching slows but Africa’s elephants still face extinction
Paris, France | AFP | The illegal slaughter of African elephants to feed Asia’s demand for ivory has decreased by more than half in eight years, but the majestic mammals are still threatened with extinction, researchers warned Tuesday. In 2011, poachers killed some 40,000 tuskers — about ten percent of the …
Read More »Uganda heads to Cannes to market film potential
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | As Uganda looks to strengthen its potential as a premier tourist and film hub in the region, Uganda Tourism Board (UTB), Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) and Ugandan filmmakers will take part in the prestigious Cannes Film Festival that runs from today, May 14 …
Read More »Uganda’s tourism growth presents opportunities for hospitality market
Hilton Hotels & Resorts is committed to two hotels in Uganda – Hilton Garden Inn and Hilton Kampala – to serve different market segments. Samantha Muna, the director of development for the hotel brand in East Africa spoke to The Independent’s Isaac Khisa about their plans and opportunities in the …
Read More »Museveni speaks out on South African visas
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | President Yoweri Museveni has said Ugandans should get visas on entry in South Africa. Museveni was reacting to reports that several Ugandan tour operators recently had difficulty getting visas while others were denied entry to attend the Indaba Tourism Fair in Durban last week. …
Read More »Uganda wins gold at Africa’s Travel Indaba Expo 2019
Durban, South Africa | THE INDEPENDENT | Uganda has emerged Best Exhibitor in the category of Southern African Development Community and Africa as a whole, winning gold at Africa’s Travel Indaba Expo 2019 that ended today in Durban There were at least 10 Ugandan exhibiting companies including Abacus African Vacations, …
Read More »Museveni welcomes ‘baby’, pushes for East African airline
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | President Yoweri Museveni has said he is an advocate of an East African Airways to be owned and run by the East African Community bloc to stem what he called unnecessary competition. Museveni urged East African countries to work together instead of competing in the aviation …
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