Uganda to adopt tourism legislation in line with UN

Introduction

Uganda`s government is to introduce tourism legislation in support of the UN Millennium Development Goals. The catalyst for this legislation has been a recently released report by the Sustainable Tourism Cooperative Research Center of Australia. The new direction of Uganda’s tourism policies were revealed in the 4th International Institute for Peace through Tourism African Conference. Uganda’s President made a note that one of the key constraints to tourism development has been the weak law and regulations to guide and enforce proper development in the industry. He also emphasized that laws are critical in sustainable development of tourism.

Original article by Michael Verikios. Published on Wednesday, May 23, 2007

Essay by Marika Elovaara
Master in Tourism Destination Management student 2008/2009

The challenges of tourism development are faced in every destination that is committed to keep up the evolving industry. Within the tourism industry laws and regulations need to be implemented, not only to make an even plain field for the resellers of the products or services, but also for the consumers that the tourists are. The laws and regulations shouldn’t only be implemented for the product or service itself, but to include them to make a productive atmosphere in a country for tourism to grow. As the government is often the negotiator between stakeholders in destinations where tourism is emerging, they are also responsible for sustainability of the industry with the laws and regulations.

In Uganda for example the policy makers incorporate principles and regulations in the form of a new legislation. This will enhance the achievement of the goals and make the practice to be more globalised as it is this way synchronized with the U.N. Millennium Development Goals. With the new legislation is hoped that it empowers the local communities to take advantage of the opportunities to benefit from tourism and preserves the principles of sustainable tourism development. It is very crucial and encouraging to include the local people in planning, but again the reality of the implementation on the field might be something totally different.

As the government’s commitments are favored in economic management principles to facilitate the growth of the tourism industry, these global programs are a good way to commit emerging destinations into sustainable development. Especially when the benefactors are for example World Bank. Also for an emerging destination, collaborative strategies to move from legislation towards the implementations dialog is needed between public, private sector, donor agency, NGO and Civil Society.
Since tourism has perceived many times as a pleasure rather than serious economic sector, corporate network needs to follow the legislation development with their expansions for new destinations. Global legislation policies would come useful for consumers rather than suggestions for companies to a certain direction. But still given the large size of the tourism industry and the subsequent potential harms to consumer welfare, policymaker must be alert to control the private sector with follow-up work.

It is also possible that with tourism, stable paradigms can be introduced. Tourism’s contribution to poverty reduction is somewhat discussed in the UN Millennium Development Goals. The program will bring Tourism Ministers from other countries closer together and in encourage the importance of legislation in other countries of Africa. In the International Institute for Peace through Tourism (IIPT) main idea is fostering the growth of the travel and tourism industry. As during the IIPT 4th African Conference on Peace trough Tourism IIPT’s, President Louis D’Amore emphasized the introduction of sustainable tourism by Uganda Ministry of Tourism, Trade and Industry. It is a milestone as these legislations are a significant concrete outcome of the 4th IIPT African Conference on Peace through Tourism.