The new tourism bill which was recently tabled in Uganda’s Parliament was finally passed and is only awaiting Presidential assent. The bill seeks to enhance opportunities of soliciting financial resources for marketing Uganda worldwide. Comparatively, Uganda spends about  USD$500,000 annually on promotion and marketing of its tourism potential compared to its neighbors Kenya, Rwanda and Tanzania who spend more than 1millon dollars annually in marketing their tourism potential world wide.

The bill, among others, seeks to eliminate taxes on domestic air flights, a move that is seen to encourage the number of tourists who have limited time to visit many Uganda National parks by air instead of using the road.

The implementation of a waiver of import duty on tourism vehicles may lead to the importation of many tourist vehicles which will ultimately make car hire rates more affordable. The introduction of a new tourism development levy of 2% on accommodation is a move intended to boost the marketing and promotion of Uganda tourism.