East Africa tourism

More than three years after the murder of eight foreign tourists, kidnapped while on tour of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in southwest Uganda, the country is finally, albeit slowly and rather tenuously, experiencing a rebound in international travelers. Whereas only recently, adventure tourism referred to the possibility of abduction and death for foreign tourists, the term once again suggests the possibilities offered by a country whose national parks and protected areas remain among the world’s most significant, culturally and ecologically. East Africa has endured decades of ethnic violence, institutional mismanagement and international neglect, poverty and disease. Yet, improved political stability and openness, and aggressive tourism campaigns have fueled a boom in tourism within the region. As a result, tourism and more specifically, culture- and nature-based ecotourism, is now one of the most important sectors in the regional economy, and governments throughout East Africa are busy (re)positioning themselves as international destinations.1 As the Uganda example shows, ecotourism development can play an important role in sustaining local people, places and identities during a period of dynamic change from a country in conflict to tourist destination. But as we shall see, this strategy is not without its own risks.