UGANDA: Taxi Operators Urged Not To Cheat Their Clients To Save The Tourism Image

The Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) has told service providers in the hospitality sector that the growth of the tourism sector is hinged on their ethical conduct and honesty.

The UWA director of Tourism Development and Business Services, Mr Raymond Engena, says cheating visitors (tourists) and lack of good customer care undermines the sector. The Authority has embarked on training of service providers on the importance of customer care.

Speaking at a workshop for airport taxi operators at Lido Beach in Entebbe, Mr Engena warned that cheating dents the image on the country. “Even though it’s night time, please maintain the $40 rate (Shs134,800) constant for transport to Kampala so as we maintain the good image of the tourism sector,” he said.

Entebbe International Airport taxi operators are the first contact persons for the tourists as they transport them from the airport to different destinations in Kampala and game parks in the countryside.

Mr Engena said tourism is a major contributor to Uganda’s economy and asked Ugandans to learn from foreigners and protect the wildlife.

“Begin to take conservation seriously because if the wildlife ceases to exist, there will be no tourism thus no jobs,” he said.
Mr Jacob Magala, the chairman of the airport taxi operators, said: “We will play our part as drivers in the promotion of tourism in the country so that customers can get satisfied with our services and come back to Uganda,”