The Uganda Tourism Board (UTB) has announced a comprehensive initiative to register and license all tourism enterprises in the country, aiming to identify and eliminate illegal operators. This move targets all unlicensed tourism enterprises, including hotels, restaurants, guest houses, tour operators, and travel agents, to ensure they comply with legal and industry standards. Lilly , the Executive Director of the Uganda Tourism Board, emphasized the importance of this exercise while addressing officers from the tourism police at Hotel Africana.
Anjalora noted that any tourism enterprise operating without a license is doing so illegally, as stipulated by law. highlighted issues with some tour operators who defraud tourists, urging tourists to engage only with individuals and companies recognized and registered by the board. She pointed out that while many large facilities are already registered and licensed, numerous small facilities remain unregistered, violating the required accommodation standards.
The UTB plans to collaborate with key partners, including the police, to sensitize owners of accommodation facilities on the importance of licensing. This initiative will educate business owners about the minimum standards required, provide them with time to comply, and subsequently register and license their establishments before enforcement begins. The registration and inspection fee for accommodation facilities is currently 100,000 Ugandan shillings, with an annual licensing f.
