The Buganda Kingdom has unveiled the benefits of its recently launched online platform, visitbuganda.com, aimed at enhancing tourism within the kingdom.
According to Robert Kasozi, Executive Director of the Buganda Heritage and Tourism Board (BHTB), the platform will serve as an online marketplace where all tourism-related services can be accessed, showcasing Buganda’s various attractions to the world.
The portal was launched during a side event at the Pearl of Africa Tourism Expo (POATE) at the Munyonyo Convention Center. Developed in partnership with the private technology company Tripesa, the platform offers mutual benefits: the kingdom gains enhanced tourism capabilities, while Tripesa expands its market reach.
Kasozi emphasized that digitizing tourism will bring the kingdom’s hidden treasures closer to the target market without compromising conservation efforts. He explained that to effectively conserve Buganda’s culture, there must be a balance between digitalization and outreach. The visitbuganda.com portal aims to empower the private sector to reach the market and promote tourism in the Buganda Kingdom.
“As you know, Buganda is a well-researched destination and among the most written-about subjects in Africa. We have many people who may want to visit Buganda but don’t have access to tour operators or hotels. The visitbuganda.com portal is where tourists can book a hotel, a ride, and many other services at the click of a button,” Kasozi stated.
He further mentioned that since the launch of the online portal, they have engaged numerous stakeholders to promote Buganda’s culture and experiential tourism. The marketplace will empower communities and build capacity, involving everyone in the digital future while preserving the kingdom’s culture and heritage.
“We are not keeping people out of business, but we are in an era where people want to serve themselves. Why should I first ask someone to give an experience when I can just use my phone and choose and do many other things?” Kasozi added.
David Gonahasa, co-founder of Tripesa, highlighted that Tripesa aims to democratize access to technology in the tourism business. He noted that they have developed a user-friendly tool that enables even those with low technology skills to create marketplaces.
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