Impact of COVID-19 on Community Tourism in Karamoja – 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.
Continue reading and watch the videos to learn about the positive impacts of tourism and our initiative of offering virtual tours and online tours to continue to support the host communities.
The impact of COVID-19 and Community Tourism in Karamoja
Kara-Tunga visited it’s 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.
Memorable Tour in Karamoja with Kara-Tunga, Karamoja Tours – We enjoyed five memorable days in the Karamoja region in early October and highly recommend the services of Kara-Tunga Arts and Tours in Moroto. Theo, of Kara-Tunga, helped us organize our diverse itinerary before we travelled to Uganda.
We’re enlightened to announce our partnership with the Uganda Red Cross Society, aimed at equipping our staff with the skills to provide more safety during our activities, at our guesthouse and for the community around us.
Voluntary work in Karamoja Uganda – I checked a long existing bucket list item…. a trip to Uganda. What an experience this was! This truly is ‘the pearl of Africa’…
5 young women on a budget safari exploring the untouched northeast of Uganda: Hiking Mount Kadam, trans-night Karamoja Cultural Experience and Kidepo Valley Safari.
Video: Impact of COVID-19 and Community Tourism in Karamoja
Impact of COVID-19 on Community Tourism in Karamoja – 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.
Continue reading and watch the videos to learn about the positive impacts of tourism and our initiative of offering virtual tours and online tours to continue to support the host communities.
The impact of COVID-19 and Community Tourism in Karamoja
Kara-Tunga visited it’s 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)
Related Posts
Memorable Tour in Karamoja with Kara-Tunga
Memorable Tour in Karamoja with Kara-Tunga, Karamoja Tours – We enjoyed five memorable days in the Karamoja region in early October and highly recommend the services of Kara-Tunga Arts and Tours in Moroto. Theo, of Kara-Tunga, helped us organize our diverse itinerary before we travelled to Uganda.
Kara-Tunga trains Karamoja Tour Guides in First Aid
We’re enlightened to announce our partnership with the Uganda Red Cross Society, aimed at equipping our staff with the skills to provide more safety during our activities, at our guesthouse and for the community around us.
Voluntary work in Karamoja Uganda – Remote and authentic experience
Voluntary work in Karamoja Uganda – I checked a long existing bucket list item…. a trip to Uganda. What an experience this was! This truly is ‘the pearl of Africa’…
6 Day Karamoja Safari with Cultural Tour, Mt Kadam Hike and Kidepo Valley Safari
5 young women on a budget safari exploring the untouched northeast of Uganda: Hiking Mount Kadam, trans-night Karamoja Cultural Experience and Kidepo Valley Safari.