IN ACCOMMODATION FACILITIES, UTB INSPECTS FOR MINIMUM STANDARDS.
On the tourism regulatory mandate and minimum standards for accommodation facilities in Uganda, UTB launched a sensitization drive for stakeholders. Public health inspectors, tourism and commercial officers are local government officials who were attracted to the training which was launched by the Chief Executive Officer UTB Ms.Lily Ajarova.
However there were other officials who attended the training and these were UTB Quality Assurance Mr. Manager Samora Semakula and Permanent Secretary Representative Ministry of Local government Ms. Ruth Gyaayo on 20th June 2020 at Golden Tulip Hotel, Kampala.
To cover the entire country, the training was launched worldwide in places like Entebbe, Nansana, Mukono, Jinja, Tororo, Gulu, Arua, Kalangala, Hoima, Masindi, Mbale, Soroti, among several other regions in the country.
Through registration, inspection, licensing, grading, and classification of tourism enterprises and services, the CEO of UTB Lilly Ajarova in her remarks emphasized the Uganda Tourism Board’s responsibility of enforcing and monitoring tourism standards in the tourism industry. “Tourist accommodation facilities play a significant role in marketing the country as a preferred tourist place as well as showcasing the country as a competitive and attractive destination as it is vested in the institution under the Uganda Tourism Act 2008 Section 7, J and K.
“The explore Uganda brand immersion should be matched with quality delivery and positive visitor experiences that create positive moments and customer delight. It was imperative therefore that the launch of the newly refreshed destination brand Explore Uganda – The Pearl of Africa was a call to action for the country to reactivate and focus on competitive quality assurance. “All quality assurance activities currently speak into the branding project and are geared towards positioning Uganda as a must-visit destination,” she said.
About Explore Uganda brand.
The quality delivery and positive visitor experiences that create positive moments and customer delight should be matched with Explore Uganda brand.
It was imperative therefore that the launch of the newly refreshed destination brand Explore Uganda – The Pearl of Africa was a call to action for the country to reactivate and focus on competitive quality assurance. She said all quality assurance activities currently speak into the branding project and are geared towards positioning Uganda as a must-visit destination.
Mr. Samora Semakula explained that accommodation facilities, tour operators, travel agents, and tour guides as per the Uganda Tourism Act 2008, citing the fact that quality assurance is dependent on policy, process, and product are involved across the tourism and hospitality value chain by UTB.
How did UTB support the Hotel General Managers Association of Uganda (HOGMAU)?
Through training, UTB supported HOGMAU in April of this year which has promoted more knowledge in the hospitality sector.
HOGMAU improved in information technology preparing them for grading and classification of accommodation facilities. To appreciate the requirements and register for tourism services on the platform, the Quality Assurance Manager further explained that UTB has an online system, www.qasystem.utb.go.ug, that gives stakeholders the opportunity. Operators are issued a tourism operating license and certificate in their email upon satisfaction of minimum requirements.
After registration with UTB for tour guides, they provide skilled and professional services which must be assessed by the Directorate of Industrial Training (DIT) and the successful ones shall be issued with an e-license certificate.
Ministry of Local Government (MOLG) and public health inspectors in local government’s partnered with UTB to assist in the enforcement of the standards in facilities like recommendations for participation in regional and international events, participation in marketing expos and Global Distribution System service providers with Amadeus and Galileo within their local governments where the board has managed to identify the potential accommodation facilities that are registered with URSB and have the potential for licensing and grading
Aggressive awareness campaigns were launched by UTB about the classification process and the requirements for the classification of lodging facilities. The e-grading system has been uploaded and the board with funding from UNDP has procured an e-grading system and logistics (tables). Training is ongoing on the operationalization of this e-grading system because it’s expected that grading and classification will commence in January 2023.
Great improvement, standardization, streamlined and regulated compliance sectors in the next 5 years giving the visitors the experience of a lifetime for better referral business, increased length of stay and greater revenue realization by the private sector are projected by the board.
To improve service delivery, a number of partnerships have been initiated like UHOA, local government, URSB, and URA to improve business operations whilst working closely with other public and private bodies
