Uganda Tourism Board (UTB) will classify all tourism facilities in the country in order to enable them improve on standards of the sector and ability to attract more visitors to the country
Bradford Ochieng, the UTB Deputy Chief Executive Officer, during a training and sensitisation workshop on registration, inspection and licensing of accommodation with Uganda Hotel Owners Association (UHOA), encouraged owners of tourism facilities to improve on their standards.
The said facilities include hotels, lodges, guest house among others.
“If a hotel established is given a star rating, it eases its marketing and guests will be given the right information about the establishment thereby reducing disappointments,” he said.
Facilities can be graded from one-star to five-star based on a number of factors like service levels, location, staff among others.
chieng stated that classifying all tourist facilities would enable Uganda not only enforce its standard in the hospitality industry, but also improves the country’s competitiveness with the neighboring countries and ability to attract visitors.
“We have to remember that we are competing for the same travelers with our neighbors. Therefore, we have to critically look at our competitiveness. In terms of pricing, hygiene, standards, potential travelers look at these and many other things before zeroing in on their preferred destination,” he said.
Ochieng noted that as UTB, they are set to ensure that standards are enforced in the industry and this will be done through registering and licensing all facilities that are engaged in the business.
