IMPROVING TOURISM SUPPORT INFRASTRUCTURE: A CASE FOR THE CLUSTER APPROACH.

1. IMPROVING TOURISM SUPPORT INFRASTRUCTURE: A CASE FOR THE CLUSTER APPROACH. Dr.PeterNgategize NC/CICS Secretariat/Cluster Facilitator. PRESENTED AT THE THIRD (3RD) TOURISM PERFORMANCE REVIEW COMFERENCE 25TH SEPTEMBER 2012, HOTEL AFRICANA

2. Presentation Outline • Background. • Importance of infrastructure. • The Cluster Concept. • The Kigezi Cluster Platform. • Next steps. • Implications for the Tourism Sector in Uganda.

3. Background The Tourism Sector is recognized as a key driver in our quest for achieving a middle income status under the National Development Plan (NDP), 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. 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. A potential sector for economic growth, increased job creation, household incomes and prosperity.

4. INFRASTRUCTURE DEFINED. • 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).

5. Importance of infrastructure • Moving tourists from “attraction to attraction” – access to tourism products. • Portray the image of the destination. • Part of the overall experience that tourists will talk about hence impacting on repeat visit or new visitors. • Play a major role when tour operators and travelers are choosing destinations. • Has an impact on length of stay and spending key tourists.

6. Key Stakeholders in Uganda’s Tourism Support Infrastructure. • 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)

7. 1.Limited interaction. 2.Low level of trust. 3.Limited information exchange. 4.Limited cooperation and collaboration. Where are we as a cluster?

8. 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.

9. Infrastructure Financing Options (not exhaustive) • National Budget – Central Government. • Grants/Concessional Loans. • Contractor Facilitated Financing. • Sector Financing-Fees & Levies.

10. Importance of a Cluster in Tourism Support Infrastructure. • Knowledge and Information pool. • Skills and technical know how pool. • Opportunity to synergize and leverage different interests and capacities. • Enhanced information flow, innovation and competitiveness.

11. Kigezi Tourism Cluster Platform. Launched by the Rt. Hon.Amama Mbabazi, Prime Minister of Uganda on 28th December 2011. Membership of 20 individuals and Institutional representatives (public, private and donor partners). Chaired by Prof.Tumusiime Mutebile. CICS Secretariat (Dr. Peter Ngategize), Cluster Facilitator.

12. KIGEZI TOURISM CLUSTER PLATFORM Membership Prof. E. Tumusiime Mutebile - Governor BOU/Kyahugye Island Resort- Chair Eng. RachealNganwa UNRA Mr. Nicholas Byengoma Arcadia Cottages Eng. Ivan BatumwaBunyonyi Overland Resort Mrs. CharloteKanabahitaBunyonyi Safaris Resort Mr. SeithByarugaba Uganda Tourism Information Center Mr. FidelisKanyamunyu Wagtail Safaris Camp Ms. Christine Ampumuza Lecturer Kabale University Ms. Monica Ekyogabirwe Lecturer MUBS Mr. KadduSebunya USAID – STAR Dr. Andrew Sseguya UWA Mr. Richard Munezero District Tourism Officer Kisoro Mr. James GarugaMusinguziSavanah Resort Dr. John Bahana ICOB – Uganda Chapter Mr. Cuthbert Baguma ED/UTB Ms. Irene Ntanda UNDP Mr. Vivian Lyazi MTWH Mr. Godfrey Turyahikayo REA Representatives of Local District Governments Hon. RuhakanaRugunda Ministry of ICT Dr. Peter Ngategize NC/CICS MFPED

13. Some cluster members on a study trip to Rwanda.

14. ACTIVITIES UNDERTAKEN. • Launch Activities at ICOB – Uganda Chapter Convention,2011. • Stakeholder Workshop on Infrastructure, January 2012. • Baseline Study, Feb – March 2012. • First meeting of the Platform, March 13th 2012 • -Cluster formation • -Formation of the Sub Committees • 2nd Cluster Platform meeting, June 15th 2012 • Field visit to Kigezi Region and Rwanda,25 to 28th June 2012 • Presentation at the ICOB 2012 Convention, Greenville, South Carolina, USA.

15. 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.

16. NEXT STEPS. • Finalize and Launch a two year action plan that includes tourism support infrastructure. • 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) • Build on monitoring reports to make a case for the 2013/14 budget. • Assess the effectiveness of the different funding modalities for tourism support infrastructure. • Attract investments in products development to complement infrastructure development

17. IMPLICATIONS FOR THE TOURISM SECTOR IN UGANDA • 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. • 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. • The kigezi tourism cluster has helped putting tourism support infrastructure back into the national development agenda. • To succeed, “Cluster facilitation” has to be well managed, transparent in delivery and sustained for at least two years

18. Conclusion. • Infrastructure is critical to growth in tourism especially in the natural resource endowed regions of Uganda. • A cluster approach can hold in policy advocacy funding and execution of tourism support infrastructure projects. • The Kigezi Tourism Cluster has demonstrated potential for a cluster approach to unleash prosperity. • A debate on other partnerships should take place (Tourism Sector Working Group Association,etc ( and a way forward forged.

19. Thank You!