IMPROVING TOURISM SUPPORT INFRASTRUCTURE:
A CASE FOR THE
CLUSTER APPROACH.
Dr.Peter Ngategize
NC/CICS Secretariat/Cluster Facilitator.
PRESENTED AT THE THIRD (3RD) TOURISM
PERFORMANCE REVIEW COMFERENCE
25TH SEPTEMBER 2012, HOTEL AFRICANA
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Presentation Outline
• Background.
• Importance of infrastructure.
• The Cluster Concept.
• The Kigezi Cluster Platform.
• Next steps.
• Implications for the Tourism Sector in Uganda.
2
Background
1. The Tourism Sector is recognized as a key driver in our quest
for achieving a middle income status under the National
Development Plan (NDP),
2. Tourism is critical to Uganda competitiveness agenda,(CICS),
2011-15 because it is a sector that is best driven by
productivity (and high quality service delivery), a key driver of
competitiveness.
3. Tourism is a sector through which the distribution of benefits
across segments of society is best demonstrated: transporter,
tour guide, hotel investor, crafts producer, tax collector, farmer
and banking sector.
4. A potential sector for economic growth, increased job creation,
household incomes and prosperity.
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INFRASTRUCTURE DEFINED.
1. In this context, tourism support infrastructure
includes:
• Roads
• ICT network
• Electricity
• Air travel (airfields, etc).
However, it could be extended to include:
•
Institutional structures such as training institutions,
hospitals, markets and other service providers
(highway stopover, hotels etc).
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Importance of infrastructure
1. Moving tourists from “attraction to attraction” –
access to tourism products.
2. Portray the image of the destination.
3. Part of the overall experience that tourists will talk
about hence impacting on repeat visit or new
visitors.
4. Play a major role when tour operators and
travelers are choosing destinations.
5. Has an impact on length of stay and spending key
tourists.
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Key Stakeholders in Uganda’s Tourism Support
Infrastructure.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
Ministry of Works and Transport (MOWT).
Uganda National Road Authority UNRA
Rural Electrification Authority (REA)
Ministry of Information and Communication Technology (MOICT)
Uganda Local Authorities Association (UCAA).
Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities
Uganda Tourism Board (UTB)
Uganda Wild Life Authority (UWA)
Uganda Tourism Association and related Private Sector Actors
Competitiveness and Investment Climate Strategy (CICS) Secretariat
Development Partners e.g. USAID – STAR, EU and World Bank
Civil Aviation Authority (CAA)
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Where are we as a cluster?
1.Limited
interaction.
Public
Promotion
Agencies
Enterprises and
Households
Research and
Training
Institutions
2.Low level of trust.
3.Limited
information
exchange.
4.Limited
cooperation and
collaboration.
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Where do we want to be as a cluster?
1.High level of
interaction.
2.High level of Trust.
3.High level of
information
exchange.
4.High level of
cooperation and
collaboration.
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Infrastructure Financing Options
(not exhaustive)
1. National Budget – Central Government.
2. Grants/Concessional Loans.
3. Contractor Facilitated Financing.
4. Sector Financing-Fees & Levies.
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Importance of a Cluster in Tourism Support
Infrastructure.
1. Knowledge and Information pool.
2. Skills and technical know how pool.
3. Opportunity to synergize and leverage
different interests and capacities.
4. Enhanced information flow, innovation and
competitiveness.
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Kigezi Tourism Cluster Platform.
1. Launched by the Rt. Hon.Amama Mbabazi,
Prime Minister of Uganda on 28th December 2011.
2. Membership of 20 individuals and Institutional
representatives (public, private and donor partners).
3. Chaired by Prof.Tumusiime Mutebile.
4. CICS Secretariat (Dr. Peter Ngategize), Cluster
Facilitator.
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KIGEZI TOURISM CLUSTER PLATFORM
Membership
1. Prof. E. Tumusiime Mutebile - Governor BOU/Kyahugye Island Resort- Chair
2. Eng. Racheal Nganwa
UNRA
3. Mr. Nicholas Byengoma
Arcadia Cottages
4. Eng. Ivan Batumwa
Bunyonyi Overland Resort
5. Mrs. Charlote Kanabahita
Bunyonyi Safaris Resort
6. Mr. Seith Byarugaba
Uganda Tourism Information Center
7. Mr. Fidelis Kanyamunyu
Wagtail Safaris Camp
8. Ms. Christine Ampumuza
Lecturer Kabale University
9. Ms. Monica Ekyogabirwe
Lecturer MUBS
10. Mr. Kaddu Sebunya
USAID – STAR
11. Dr. Andrew Sseguya
UWA
12. Mr. Richard Munezero
District Tourism Officer Kisoro
13. Mr. James Garuga Musinguzi Savanah Resort
14. Dr. John Bahana
ICOB – Uganda Chapter
15. Mr. Cuthbert Baguma
ED/UTB
16. Ms. Irene Ntanda
UNDP
17. Mr. Vivian Lyazi
MTWH
18. Mr. Godfrey Turyahikayo
REA
19. Representatives of Local District Governments
20. Hon. Ruhakana Rugunda
Ministry of ICT
21. Dr. Peter Ngategize
NC/CICS MFPED
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Some cluster members on a study trip to Rwanda.
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ACTIVITIES UNDERTAKEN.
1.
Launch Activities at ICOB – Uganda Chapter Convention,2011.
2.
Stakeholder Workshop on Infrastructure, January 2012.
3.
Baseline Study, Feb – March 2012.
4.
First meeting of the Platform, March 13th 2012
-Cluster formation
-Formation of the Sub Committees
5.
2nd Cluster Platform meeting, June 15th 2012
6.
Field visit to Kigezi Region and Rwanda,25 to 28th June 2012
7.
Presentation at the ICOB 2012 Convention, Greenville, South Carolina,
USA.
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PERFORMANCE TODATE
•
The Cluster concept has been recognized at policy
level as a potentially effective tool for unleashing
growth and innovation.
•
The Cluster effectively lobbied for prioritization of
tourism support infrastructure in the region (3 roads
prioritized).
•
There is growing demand for implementing the
cluster approach in other regions of the country.
•
Cost benefit analysis was done on priority roads to
demonstrate that investing in tourism support
infrastructure is cost effective.
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NEXT STEPS.
1.
Finalize and Launch a two year action plan that includes
tourism support infrastructure.
2.
Monitor and report on the implementation of the Budget
pronouncements for 2012/13 and on especially
infrastructure:
.Kabale-Bunyonyi Road (6km)
.Kabale (Ikumba)-Kanungu-Buhoma (120km)
.Ishasha-Katunguru (88km)
3.
Build on monitoring reports to make a case for the 2013/14
budget.
4.
Assess the effectiveness of the different funding modalities
for tourism support infrastructure.
5.
Attract investments in products development to complement
infrastructure development
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IMPLICATIONS FOR THE TOURISM SECTOR IN
UGANDA
1. A cluster approach:
• Recognizes the power of numbers, trust, cooperation and
natures mult-stakeholder interests in a given geographical
area.
• Recognizes that neither private or public sector has a
monopoly over resources, know how and ability to
execute.
2. Uganda’s six tourism zones offer an opportunity for application
of the cluster concept for unleashing tourism potential (Kigezi,
Rift valley, Murchison falls, Kidepo, Mt.Elgon and Greater
Capital area.
3. The kigezi tourism cluster has helped putting tourism support
infrastructure back into the national development agenda.
4. To succeed, “Cluster facilitation” has to be well managed,
transparent in delivery and sustained for at least two years
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Conclusion.
1. Infrastructure is critical to growth in tourism
especially in the natural resource endowed regions
of Uganda.
2. A cluster approach can hold in policy advocacy
funding and execution of tourism support
infrastructure projects.
3. The Kigezi Tourism Cluster has demonstrated
potential for a cluster approach to unleash
prosperity.
4. A debate on other partnerships should take place
(Tourism Sector Working Group Association,etc (
and a way forward forged.
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Thank You!
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