Assessment of Kampala Capital City as potential sustainable tourism destination in Uganda

Abstract

City tourism is one of the fastest growing travel categories in the world, and in many places, the changing character of city tourism is becoming increasingly obvious. The study set out to assess the potential of Kampala Capital City as a sustainable tourism city in Uganda. It was guided by three objectives: to document the existing planning measures put in place to make Kampala a sustainable tourism City, to examine the hindrances to turning Kampala city as a sustainable tourism city, and to explore strategies needed to unlock full potential of sustainable tourism in Kampala Capital City. The study adopted an exploratory research design. Data were collected using a mixed method approach that involved questionnaires, in-depth interviews and document content analysis. Data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 16 to show the relationship between planning and sustainable tourism. Results indicate that there was a positive relationship (r=.234, p> 0.05) between planning measures and potential sustainable tourism. Findings on hindrances to turning Kampala city into a sustainable tourism city revealed unimplemented city plans, uncoordinated tourism associations, and stakeholders, and inadequate solid waste management measures as some of the challenges. On the strategies needed to unlock full potential of sustainable tourism findings revealed that tourism marketing and promotion campaigns, diversification of the tourism products and markets, infrastructure development and betterment among others, as some of the strategies.

In view of the above findings the study recommended the following: KCCA, and the government at large to improve the city solid waste management practices as well as put in place a policy that ensures tourism practitioners promote sustainable tourism practices such as an interdisciplinary approach to fully understand the challenges posed by city tourism. Develop and implement strategies that will position the city as a sustainable tourism destination. This will help to enhance the city’s tourism image, increase the tourist arrivals and incomes. To achieve a quality tourist experience and its sustainability, there is a need for application of an inclusive and interdisciplinary approach to harmonize the aspirations of the different tourism stakeholders along the tourism value chain and strategically plan for sustainable tourism development in Kampala city. This implies that an open-door policy should be put in practice and should be expanded to include non-tourism stakeholders’ views if sustainable tourism is to be achieved.