A leap out of the Covid-19 mess: Uganda’s tourism numbers returning to pre-2020 levels

Covid-19 pushed the tourism sector on the edge – almost to near collapse – non had ever imagined.

It was a global disaster, but one that hurt Uganda’s tourism value chain, perhaps much more than elsewhere.

Stretched months of airspace closure and restrictions on movement left the industry on its knees – from which it has taken almost five years to show real signs of recovery.

Not forgetting that the industry had for years struggled to shake off various pressures, resulting from terrorism and political-related threats.   

Post-Covid-19 – around 2021 – tourism arrivals stood at about 450,000, which was far below pre-Covid-a9 arrivals of above 1.5 million.

However, tourist arrivals, according to the Tourism Trends and Statistics report 2025 by the Ministry of Tourism, have resurged to near Pre-Covid-19 levels.

In 2024, the report shows, at least 1.37 million international tourists arrived in Uganda, reflecting a 7.7% increase from the 1.27 million arrivals in 2023.

However, this was lower than the 1.6 million arrivals that the Ministry had projected in a status report in 2023.

The, current growth, however, signals a steady recovery, with the sector getting closer to the 2019 arrivals that stood at above 1.54 million for inbound visitors.

The rise, the Ministry noted was due to aggressive marketing, infrastructural developments, and conservation initiatives undertaken during the period under review.

The growth, the report shows, returned a significant increase in tourism, which rose by 25.9% to $1.28 billion (UGX 4.68 trillion), up from $1.03 billion (UGX 3.76 trillion) in 2023.

Tourism remains a key driver of Uganda’s economy, contributing at least 3.2%, which is equivalent to UGX 6.06 trillion on gross domestic product.

The sector also supports the country with more than 803,000 jobs, representing 7.2% of total employment, which highlights the pivotal role of tourism as an anchor sector for job creation, economic growth, and inclusive development.

Ministry of Tourism also indicates that tourists are now staying longer in Uganda with the average stay increasing to 8.7 nights, and higher daily spending, averaging $125 per day.

Data also indicates that tourists predominantly spend more on accommodation, food and beverage, passenger transport, and travel agency services, which collectively account for 79.8%, highlighting the importance of other service sectors to the tourism ecosystem.

Government has now shifted focus on attracting higher-spending tourists to enhance the value derived from each visitor.

India, US, and China remain Uganda’s key overseas source markets, with growing interest from Canada and Bangladesh.

The Ministry of Tourism also notes there has been a positive trend in leisure tourism, with the share of leisure visitors increasing from 16% to 19%, which indicate the effectiveness of promotional efforts.

Government has in the last five years promoted Uganda as a destination for holidaymakers.

The report further shows that accommodation continued to see an improvement in hotel room occupancy, which during the period rose to 53.2%, with Kampala leading at an average occupancy rate at 68.3%, driven by increases in domestic tourism, particularly for MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions), business, and leisure travel.

During the year domestic tourism grew by 15.7% to approximately 2.8 million travelers. Majority of these travelled to national parks, whose entries increased by 12.6%.

Gorilla tracking also recorded an increase with permit sales rising by 6.8%.

Ministry of Tourism director of tourism, wildlife, and antiquities Basil Ajer, said as government, under the Tourism Development Programme, they will continue to promote domestic tourism, improve skills and capacities of personnel, diversify different tourism products, increase the quality of infrastructure and enhance regulation of the sector.

Doreen Katusiime, the Ministry of Tourism permanent secretary, said the National Development Plan IV identified tourism as one of the anchor sectors to create jobs, grow standards of living and promote inclusive development across the country.

“We have since witnessed a powerful rebound in the past four years. So, 2024, was defined by continued recovery, strategic transformation and renewed global interest in Uganda as a preferred destination to its destination, international,” she said.