Uganda’s tourism industry has made a full recovery from the COVID-19 downturn and is now on a strong growth trajectory, according to the newly released Tourism Statistical Abstract 2025 by the Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities.The report was officially disseminated at a ceremony in Kampala, where government officials and industry stakeholders gathered to review the sector’s performance and outlook.Speaking at the event, Permanent Secretary Doreen Katusiime underscored the critical role of data in shaping tourism policy and investment decisions. She noted that the Statistical Abstract, developed in collaboration with stakeholders including the Uganda Bureau of Statistics, provides a comprehensive snapshot of Uganda’s tourism sector, covering visitor arrivals, expenditure, employment, domestic tourism, and key attraction sites.“This publication is designed to serve as a key reference for decision makers, investors, researchers, and all stakeholders in the tourism value chain,” Katusiime said, adding that the 2025 findings point to “full recovery and strong growth” in the sector.According to the report, international tourist arrivals rose to over 1.6 million in 2025, surpassing pre-pandemic levels. Tourism earnings increased to approximately UGX 5.8 trillion (USD 1.62 billion), while the average length of stay reached 8.8 nights. Visitors spent an average of USD 986 per trip, with leisure tourists spending even more.Tourism continues to play a vital role in Uganda’s economy, contributing an estimated 5.9 percent to Gross Domestic Product and directly supporting more than 876,000 jobs about 7.5 percent of total employment.Minister of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities Tom Butime hailed the sector’s performance, attributing the growth to deliberate government interventions such as strengthened destination marketing under the “Explore Uganda” campaign, investment in infrastructure, and closer collaboration with private sector players and development partners.“The findings confirm that Uganda’s tourism industry is firmly on a strong growth trajectory,” Butime said, noting that increased diversification of source markets and expansion of high-value segments such as leisure tourism and Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE) are boosting the sector’s economic impact.However, both officials emphasized the need to address persistent challenges, including improving tourism infrastructure, expanding quality accommodation, promoting domestic tourism, and enhancing real-time data systems.To strengthen the sector further, the Ministry is advancing key initiatives such as the Tourism Information Management System (TIMS) and the Tourism Satellite Account (TSA), aimed at improving the accuracy, timeliness, and international comparability of tourism data.Katusiime urged stakeholders to actively use the insights from the report in planning and investment decisions, stressing that “tourism statistics are a means to better decision making and unlocking the full potential of the sector.”The 2025 Statistical Abstract, now in its tenth edition, reinforces Uganda’s growing status as a competitive global tourism destination and a key driver of inclusive economic growth.The post Uganda’s Tourism Sector Rebounds Strongly as 2025 Statistics Show Record Growth appeared first on The Insider.