Ministry Department
Tourism Development Department
Destination marketing, tourism investment, product development, MICE, research and statistics, and sector coordination.
Overview
About the Tourism Development Department
The Tourism Development Department leads the Ministry's work in promoting domestic and inbound tourism, strengthening industry capacity, developing tourism infrastructure, diversifying tourism products, building skilled personnel along the tourism value chain, and strengthening coordination across the sector. It works closely with the Uganda Tourism Board (UTB), Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA), training institutions (HTTC, UWRTC), local governments, and the private sector to grow arrivals, revenue and employment.
Structure
Units & Sections
Tourism Marketing & Promotions Unit
Destination marketing campaigns, international expos, FAM trips, digital content creation, and representation in key source markets.
Tourism Development Department
Industry capacity building — training, branding, and regional campaigns supporting tourism enterprises.
Urban Tourism Desk
Greater Kampala Metropolitan Area (GKMA) tourism promotion — digital and event promotions, city tourism apps, and city galas.
International Tourism Promotion Desk
Equipping Ugandan embassies and missions abroad to promote tourism — consular staff training, diaspora engagement, and tour operator enrolment.
Domestic Tourism Unit
Roadshows, school campaigns, institutional packages, and regional domestic tourism campaigns.
MICE and Event Coordination Unit
Coordination and hosting of international conferences, meetings, incentives, and exhibitions (MICE) — POATE, facility readiness, and bid coordination.
Tourism Research and Statistics Desk
Tourism market intelligence, annual research studies, Tourism Satellite Account (TSA), visitor satisfaction studies, and sector performance tracking.
Infrastructure Development Desk
Tourism road upgrades, access roads to protected areas, and coordination with UNRA and the Ministry of Works and Transport.
Primate Tourism & Product Diversification Unit
Gorilla and primate tourism access, gorilla e-permitting system, habituation, and product diversification.
Tourism Skills and Capacity Building Unit
In-service training for tourism personnel, online modules, workshops, and post-training effectiveness evaluation.
Tourism Coordination and Policy Reform Desk
Stakeholder forums, sector coordination, consultation platforms, and legal/institutional framework strengthening.
Service Delivery Standards
What You Can Expect From Us
These standards are set out in the Ministry's Service Delivery Standards (SDS) for FY 2024/25–FY 2029/30, aligned with Vision 2040, NDP IV, and the PIAP for the Tourism Development Programme.
| Key Service | Service Standard | Timeline | Target Clients |
|---|---|---|---|
| Destination Uganda promoted in key source markets | At least 4 digital campaigns per year; representation in 10 key markets; attend minimum 4 expos annually | Annual | International tourists, travel agents, media |
| Industry capacity in destination promotion strengthened | Support at least 50 enterprises annually through training, branding, and regional campaigns | Annual | Tour operators, hotels, local governments |
| Training and skilling of tourism and hospitality students at HTTC and UWRTC | 100% student enrollment per annual intake plan; at least 75% graduate placement rate within 6 months | Annual intake | Tourism and hospitality students, employers |
| Coordination and hosting of international MICE events | At least 10 major MICE events hosted per year; 2 successful bids won annually | Annual | Event organisers, conference buyers, delegates |
| Tourism market intelligence and research dissemination | At least 4 studies conducted annually; TSA published every financial year | Annual | Researchers, policy makers, UTB, NPA |
| Tourism sector performance and economic contribution tracked | Annual growth in tourism earnings; GDP contribution increased from 5.5% to 6.5% by FY2029/30 | Annual | Government, investors, researchers |
The Department at a Glance
$1.8B
Annual Tourism Revenue (2025)
1.6M+
Visitor Arrivals (2025)
876K
Direct Tourism Jobs (2024)
4+
Annual Expos Attended
10+
MICE Events Hosted/Year
Explore the Ministry
Learn more about the Ministry's structure, leadership and strategic objectives.