OVER 230 ISRAEL TOURISTS JET INTO UGANDA FOR TOURISM EXCURSION

Uganda is remarkably a country with exceptional hospitality and very warm welcoming people. A country whose doors are ever open to its travelers to realize their dreams! Where else in Africa can you find all that this magical continent has to offer to the world if not only in Uganda-the true pearl of Africa? Just as a new month has set in, over 230 tourists from Israel have jetted into this spectacular to explore its wonders. The group embarked on a direct flight and landed at the Entebbe Airport on 13^th February. They were however cleared by the security and Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) prior checking into their respective hotels. They intend to explore Uganda’s varied tourist sites till 16^th February 2019

The outgoing Chief Executive Officer of Uganda Tourism Board Mr. Stephen Asiimwe added that this never came from the blues or due to controversial ‘Miss Curvy Uganda” beauty contest but rather after a long time engagement with Israel that resulted in this amazing visit. He further said that the chartered plane jetted into the pearl of Africa in the afternoon (1pm) with approximately 250 tourists from Tel Aviv-the capital city of Israel who are intend to explore the country’s diverse touristic sites. Uganda Tourism Board has been and still marketing the country outside that includes Israel.

The first tourist site for them to pay a visit is the old building at the old airport that during the reign of Idi Amin was raided by Israeli commandos in a rescue mission after the plane was hijacked and the Israeli passengers taken hostage. They will also pay a visit to various national park where they take part in different safari activities as well as the Jewish community in Mbale, the scenic source of River Nile in Jinja and many cultural sites different parts of the country. Their visit also comes at a time when the Minister of Tourism Pro. Ephraim Kamuntu is heading the contingent from Uganda Tourism Board and many other private sector players in Tel Aviv to engage in the International Mediterranean Tourism Market. Tel Aviv Yafo Israel comprises of a population of over 8 million people with GDP of about $400 billion and per capita income of over $40000 which makes it an ideal tourism market for a country like Uganda to tap into.

Uganda is one of Africa’s most endowed safari destinations with 10 national parks where most of its diverse wildlife species are inhabited. They include Bwindi National Park and Mgahinga National Park where the rare mountain gorillas are inhabited, Murchison Falls National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park, Lake Mburo National Park, Kidepo Valley National Park, Semuliki Valley National Park, Mount Elgon National Park and Rwenzori Mountains National Park. Besides mountain gorillas, other wildlife species that Uganda boasts of include elephants, buffaloes, leopards, lions, the rare tree climbing lions in Queen Elizabeth National Park, chimpanzees, golden monkeys, over 1080 bird species and many others.