Projects

The Government of Uganda, in its strategic development plan, Uganda Vision 2040, has recognized the tourism sector as the mainstay of the country’s transformation from a predominantly agrarian, lower-income society to a modern, prosperous and competitive upper middle-income one. The tourism industry accounted for 5.2% of gross domestic product and 14.6% of total employment in 2016. The sector currently faces the following challenges, however, which this project aims to overcome: 

Every year, more than 1.3 million tourists visit the island of Mauritius. In 2017, the tourism industry accounted for more than 12% of total gross domestic product and provided more than 30,000 direct jobs. The Mauritius Tourism Development Plan sets a target of acquiring “Green Destination” status for Mauritius by 2030. Promoting sustainable tourism that reduces tourism’s “footprint”, or negative environmental impacts, while improving its “handprint”, or positive sustainability impacts, especially for local communities, is key to green growth in Mauritius. 

There is a global trend towards increased consumer and tourist demand for socially and environmentally responsible products, particularly in eco-sensitive destinations such as Africa. In over-saturated safari tourism markets throughout the continent, there is rising competition among local brands and businesses to win market share.

Nearly a million people visit Kenya each year. How can Kenyans capitalise on the country’s rich cultural heritage and stunning nature while also maintaining it? Community Based Tourism (CBT) allows Kenya to position their local communities as centres of economic development and social wellbeing.

When it comes to nature tourism, Uganda has a comparative advantage, but protecting its resource base is critical. For tourist accommodations, an environmentally sound operation is increasingly important, both from an operational point of view – lower costs and security of supply – and from a marketing perspective. Unsound operations can have a negative impact on the tourist experience and on the flora, fauna and cultural heritage of the host environment. With an increasing number of tourists coming to Uganda, the need for environmentally sound operations is becoming more pressing.

Mauritius has developed a tourism industry that is admired throughout the world. The hospitality industry has rapidly emerged as one of the main income-earning sectors, accounting for 12% of gross domestic product. While larger hotels have the required expertise, logistics and facilities to compete at the international level, it is difficult for smaller hotels to do the same. Small and medium-sized hotels therefore need to group together to form clusters in order to achieve the same end results.

Tourism is Kenya’s third largest foreign exchange earner and a major employer, accounting for about 12% of total employment and 13.7% of gross domestic product. The tourism industry is based on a diverse range of natural, social, human and physical resources, but faces challenges in terms of sustainable development. For example, over 80% of all visits are concentrated in seven parks, and the seasonal nature of tourism further aggregates the stress on natural resources during peak seasons and reduces the efficiency of infrastructure and staff during low seasons.