UGANDA MARKS WORLD TOURISM DAY 2025 CELEBRATIONS IN ARUA CITY WITH A CALL TO SUSTAINABLE TRANSFORMATION

The Rt. Hon. Robinah Nabbanja, addressing the general public during the World Tourism Day 2025 celebrations at the Arua Golf Course in Arua City.

Arua City, West Nile Sub-Region, Saturday 27^th Sept 2025 — The Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities, in partnership with its agencies, including the Uganda Tourism Board (UTB), Uganda Wildlife Authority, Uganda Wildlife Research & Training Institute, Uganda Hotel & Tourism Training Institute, and Uganda Wildlife Conservation Education Centre, together with development partners and the private sector tourism players has today joined the rest of the international community to celebrate the United Nations World Tourism Day 2025 under the theme ‘’Tourism and Sustainable Transformation’’. The celebrations were presided over by the Rt. Hon. Robinah Nabbanja, on behalf of H.E. President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, as the Chief Guest of Honour.

This year’s theme emphasizes tourism’s transformative power in shaping inclusive, resilient, and environmentally responsible best practices and societies, positioning Uganda’s tourism as more than a leisure destination but as a major driver for national development.

This transformation aligns with the Government’s Vision 2040 and the Tenfold Growth Strategy, which positions tourism as a central pillar for Uganda’s target of growing GDP from USD 50 billion today to USD 500 billion by 2040. Additionally, the theme also aligns with Uganda’s National Development Plan IV (2025/26–2029/30), which prioritizes modernized infrastructure, diversified tourism products, digital transformation, and sustainability to grow arrivals from 1.38 million to 2.3 million by 2030.

Speaking during the World Tourism Day 2025 celebrations at the Arua Golf Course in Arua City, the Rt. Hon. Robinah Nabbanja highlighted that this year’s theme, “Tourism and Sustainable Transformation”, was timely.

She said, ‘’Transformation required the adoption of drastic measures to be able to meet global trends. Additionally, tourism is not only about beautiful scenery and creating memorable experiences for visitors, but also an engine of economic growth, a source of jobs, and a catalyst for social change.

‘’We must embrace innovation, leverage modern technology, and even create new attractions where nature alone is not enough. Uganda has been abundantly blessed, and this gives us a comparative advantage over many countries. Let us harness this diversity of opportunities to drive self-reliance and sustainable development. She concluded

In his remarks, Hon. Tom Butime, the Minister of Tourism, Wildlife & Antiquities, said approximately 1.38 million people have been part of this remarkable journey. Tourism, like other sectors of our economy, is gaining momentum and growing rapidly.

He said, ‘’ Tourism currently contributes an estimated 5.7% of Uganda’s GDP and supports over 803,000 jobs. The rise of meetings, incentives, conferences, and events (MICE) has also become a major driver, strengthening our global positioning and responsibility. As we look toward the NDP4, we fully support the government’s prioritization of tourism as a key driver of the national economy, as tourism now stands alongside Agro-industrialization, mineral development, natural resource management, and science, technology, and innovation as one of the main pillars for Uganda’s transformation.

Hon. Tom Butime, the Minister of Tourism, Wildlife & Antiquities, speaking during the World Tourism Day 2025 celebrations at the Arua Golf Course in Arua City.

‘’Our industry is expected to play a significant role in achieving the ambitious goal of growing Uganda’s GDP to $500 billion by 2040. Specifically, our target is to increase foreign exchange earnings to $50 billion during the same period. He concluded.

The celebrations in Arua City included a variety of activities, such as a National Tourism Exhibition that showcased community enterprises, cultural experiences, and eco-tourism innovations, along with cultural and traditional performances that displayed the diversity of West Nile communities. There were also educational discussions on sustainable tourism, climate action, and digital transformation. Additionally, the celebrations featured an Explore Uganda concert with West Nile Regional musicians, kickboxing champion Moses Golola, Cindy Sanyu, Jackie Chandiru, comedian Patrick Salvador Idringi, and many others.

The Explore West Nile domestic tourism promotion campaign, launched by the Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities and partners, to unearth the hidden gems of the Albert Nile corridor, saw participants enjoy familiarization trips to Murchison Falls National Park, cultural procession at Packwach, visit Vura Border, Ombachi Massacre site, and Arua Hill.

Globally, tourism accounted for 7% of world trade and ranked as the third-largest export category. Despite challenges such as climate change and geopolitical tensions, international tourism grew by 5% in the first half of 2025, with approximately 690 million tourists traveling between January and June.

According to the 2024/25 tourism performance review report, Uganda recorded 1.37 million international arrivals in 2024, representing 89.2% of the country’s pre-pandemic levels. This performance was unprecedented, and Uganda was on track to surpass pre-COVID numbers this year. This growth presented both opportunities and responsibilities, which needed to be managed wisely by balancing economic gains with environmental protection and community empowerment.

Commemorated every year on 27^th September since 1980, as established by the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO). The day promotes awareness of tourism’s economic, social, and cultural impact and fosters global understanding and responsible travel. World Tourism Day 2025 highlights the transformative potential of tourism as a catalyst for positive change.

About the Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife, and Antiquities

The Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities, established as a stand-alone entity in 2011, is mandated to sustain Uganda’s tourism, wildlife, and cultural heritage as a driver of national prosperity. With a mission to develop and promote these resources to position Uganda as a competitive and preferred tourist destination, the Ministry plays a key role in enhancing the sector’s contribution to the economy. Its responsibilities include policy formulation, coordination, and programme implementation, supervisory and regulatory oversight, planning, project preparation, appraisal, and resource mobilization, as well as advisory roles and fulfillment of national and international commitments. Additionally, it is charged with tourism product development, conservation and sustainable management of wildlife, preservation of cultural heritage, and mobilizing both domestic and international tourists through strategies and incentives that expand and diversify Uganda’s tourism sector.