Impact of COVID-19 on Community Tourism on Mt Moroto – The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic has reached even the most remote areas of Uganda. The host communities used to benefit from additional income through community tourism and freedom of movement for local business.
The impact of COVID-19 and Community Tourism on Mt Moroto
Kara-Tunga visited its community partners in Karamoja after two months after the government imposed lockdown. Local leaders, male and female members were asked how Community Tourism impacted their lives and how COVID-19 pandemic has affected them.
Kara-Tunga gives 75% of the fee directly to the host communities, guides and local businesses. The host communities place the proceeds in a village saving and loans association (saving box). The members can borrow money with interest to invest in their businesses, buy food, medicine and pay school fees. By the end of the year, all members share the proceeds and interest before starting over again.
COVID-19 has negatively affected the community, but it has also thought them a lesson about the vulnerability of tourism by external factors. All members commonly share that without tourists, but the ability to trade at the local market, they are able to support themselves and their families.
Virtual tours
The host communities and the tour guides have come to an agreement to record video tours and make them available for a contribution (like Netflix) and to offer the ability of virtual tours as well. Virtual tours are the closest you can get to a real live tour: people can book and schedule a private virtual tour whereafter the guide will give an actual live tour on a given live video channel. The client(s) can ask live questions to the guide during the tour as well.
About Kara-Tunga, Karamoja Tours
Kara-Tunga Tours was founded with a clear vision: Tourism as a tool for socio-economical development in the Karamoja subregion of Uganda.
Kara-Tunga is located at the slopes of Mount Moroto, at the heart of the administrative district of Karamoja. The social enterprise has developed three key-tools to develop a sustainable future of regional tourism and to ensure It’s lead by the local community.
We were very lucky that Kara-Tunga was brought to our attention right before we took off for a visit to Kidepo Valley NP, otherwise we would probably have missed out on such an awe-inspiring experience in the North-Eastern and Eastern parts of Uganda.
Launch of Tourism trails in The Pearl of Africa – The 3-year project is aimed at improving and diversifying products in adventure and cultural tourism in Uganda’s East and Northeast (Sebei and Karamoja subregions).
Uganda Cultural Experience with Nomadic Warriors of Karamoja – Writing a review for Kara-Tunga, Karamoja Tours is a hard task. The days I spent with this crew fill dozens of pages in my diary but I try to keep this short and sum it all up.
Karamoja Group Tour was a Rich Experience – Exhilarating, Incredible and Magical are the words I can think of to describe my experience. As a Ugandan, I have visited many parts of our beautiful country, from east to west to south-west but never have I ever taken time to tour the northern part of this …
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Video: Impact of COVID-19 and Community Tourism on Mt Moroto
Impact of COVID-19 on Community Tourism on Mt Moroto – The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic has reached even the most remote areas of Uganda. The host communities used to benefit from additional income through community tourism and freedom of movement for local business.
The impact of COVID-19 and Community Tourism on Mt Moroto
Kara-Tunga visited its community partners in Karamoja after two months after the government imposed lockdown. Local leaders, male and female members were asked how Community Tourism impacted their lives and how COVID-19 pandemic has affected them.
Kara-Tunga gives 75% of the fee directly to the host communities, guides and local businesses. The host communities place the proceeds in a village saving and loans association (saving box). The members can borrow money with interest to invest in their businesses, buy food, medicine and pay school fees. By the end of the year, all members share the proceeds and interest before starting over again.
COVID-19 has negatively affected the community, but it has also thought them a lesson about the vulnerability of tourism by external factors. All members commonly share that without tourists, but the ability to trade at the local market, they are able to support themselves and their families.
Virtual tours
The host communities and the tour guides have come to an agreement to record video tours and make them available for a contribution (like Netflix) and to offer the ability of virtual tours as well. Virtual tours are the closest you can get to a real live tour: people can book and schedule a private virtual tour whereafter the guide will give an actual live tour on a given live video channel. The client(s) can ask live questions to the guide during the tour as well.
About Kara-Tunga, Karamoja Tours
Kara-Tunga Tours was founded with a clear vision: Tourism as a tool for socio-economical development in the Karamoja subregion of Uganda.
Kara-Tunga is located at the slopes of Mount Moroto, at the heart of the administrative district of Karamoja. The social enterprise has developed three key-tools to develop a sustainable future of regional tourism and to ensure It’s lead by the local community.
The tools are: Karamoja Tourism Academy (practical skilling), Discover Karamoja (regional tourism marketing), Kara-Tunga Tours (regional tour operator)
Community school campaign
Group sponsored girl to secondary school
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Karamoja, Awe-inspiring Uganda travel experience
We were very lucky that Kara-Tunga was brought to our attention right before we took off for a visit to Kidepo Valley NP, otherwise we would probably have missed out on such an awe-inspiring experience in the North-Eastern and Eastern parts of Uganda.
Launch of Tourism trails in The Pearl of Africa
Launch of Tourism trails in The Pearl of Africa – The 3-year project is aimed at improving and diversifying products in adventure and cultural tourism in Uganda’s East and Northeast (Sebei and Karamoja subregions).
Uganda Cultural Experience with Nomadic Warriors of Karamoja
Uganda Cultural Experience with Nomadic Warriors of Karamoja – Writing a review for Kara-Tunga, Karamoja Tours is a hard task. The days I spent with this crew fill dozens of pages in my diary but I try to keep this short and sum it all up.
Karamoja Cultural Event Group Tour was a Rich Experience
Karamoja Group Tour was a Rich Experience – Exhilarating, Incredible and Magical are the words I can think of to describe my experience. As a Ugandan, I have visited many parts of our beautiful country, from east to west to south-west but never have I ever taken time to tour the northern part of this …