By KT Reporter
The role of technology in transforming Tooro’s tourism sector dominated discussions on the first day of the 10th Tooro Peoples Conference, with speakers calling for increased use of digital tools to market the region’s attractions and stimulate economic growth. The two-day conference is being held at St. Paul’s National Major Seminary in Kinyamasika, Fort Portal City, under the theme “Harnessing Tooro Culture and Promoting Tourism for Economic Development and Political Stability.”
The Chairperson of the Tooro Peoples Conference, Prof. Edward Rugumayo, said that although the Tooro region is endowed with rich cultural heritage and breathtaking natural resources, it continues to face challenges including political tensions, poverty, and limited economic opportunities.
Prof. Rugumayo noted that the conference seeks to explore practical ways of leveraging Tooro’s cultural identity and tourism resources to drive economic transformation, strengthen social cohesion, and promote long-term political stability. The Tooro region hosts several of Uganda’s major tourist attractions, including Queen Elizabeth National Park, Kibale National Park, Semuliki National Park, the Tooro Kingdom Palace, Amabere ga Nyina Mwiru, numerous crater lakes, and the Semuliki Hot Springs.
However, speakers observed that many of these attractions remain largely invisible online, limiting their ability to attract both domestic and international tourists. Prof. Moses Muhumuza, a lecturer at Mountains of the Moon University and Chairperson of the Tooro Tourism Operators Association, said the use of data and digital curation is critical to attracting tourists to the region.
Muhumuza explained that data can be used to understand tourist preferences, improve booking systems, and make travel planning more efficient. He noted that in today’s tourism industry, data tells the story even before a tourist arrives, giving potential visitors a preview of the experience they are likely to have at a destination.
He encouraged young people with technology skills to develop applications that can help tourists plan their visits, including platforms for hotel bookings, transport, meals, and guided tours. Muhumuza added that in the digital era, most tourists rely on the internet when deciding on their next destination, urging the people of Tooro to recognize the power of online platforms and harness them effectively.
Johnstone Baguma, the Team Leader at Tooro Development Network, also decried the limited online data and information about tourism attractions in Tooro and across Uganda.
Baguma said there is a need to establish a digital data hub that consolidates information on tourist attractions, hotels, travel operators, and other service providers within the tourism sector.
Meanwhile, Hussein Tabu, a digital innovator in Fort Portal City, called for increased financial support for young innovators developing technological solutions to promote tourism attractions online.Tabu also emphasized the need to sensitize communities about the positive impact of using the internet to showcase the region’s beauty, while urging government to provide free or affordable internet access to enable wider participation.
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