Great Lakes Safaris celebrates new London direct flight
Leading tourism investor Amos Wekesa (founder of Great Lakes Safaris) has welcomed Uganda Airlines securing direct flights to London, highlighting the potential impact on the nation's struggling tourism sector.
Speaking on X, Wekesa revealed big disparities between Uganda's European tourist numbers and those of neighbouring countries. While Tanzania attracts 1.8 million European visitors annually, Uganda receives fewer than 40,000, with just 11,000 from its largest market, the UK.
The absence of direct European flights has historically hampered Uganda's tourism growth, Wekesa explained. He cited Tanzania's significantly higher visitor numbers, including 111,000 French and 93,000 German tourists, compared to Uganda's 3,002 and 4,860 respectively.
Addressing concerns about previous failed direct routes, Wekesa noted that British Airways' past service consistently achieved 89% capacity on its 189-seat aircraft before withdrawing due to airport payment disputes.
The tourism expert emphasised that successful routes require strategic marketing to create demand, suggesting Uganda's limited investment in destination promotion has deterred international carriers. With each tourist spending approximately £2,400, the potential economic impact of increased visitor numbers could be substantial.
Source: The Independent
