Developing a Tourism Destination Management Plan
Introduction
The hospitality and tourism industry around the globe is continuously growing in the 21st century (Dierke, 2003). This industry encompasses hotels and other accommodations, restaurants, fast food retail, bars, and catering. It has been characterised in recent decades by the development of an increasing range of highly segmented products and services. Basically, tourism is one of the fast evolving industries that contribute to the development of the society. But tourism is not all about the beauty of nature or a place, there is a type of tourism that also speaks in suffering and death from its history known as “Dark Tourism”. In this research paper, evaluations and investigations will be facilitated pertaining to the tourism practices and development within Uganda, a county in East Africa. Basically, the main focus of this study is the development and creation of Tourism Destination Management Plan for Kibwetere site in Kanungu-Uganda. In Uganda’s history, the site of Kibwetere is a place in which the leader of a suicidal cult Joseph Kibweteere that splintered from the Roman Catholic Church in Uganda killed massive number of people ( 2010). With this, it is evident that “Dark Tourism” in Uganda are recognizing the need of the tourism and demonstrating a willingness to invest in whatever it takes to make it happen. From this consideration, this research study will consider the major changes brought by dark tourism to the hospitality and tourism industry in Uganda.
Statement of the Problem
It is obvious that the government of the countries in Africa are creating ways to improve the tourism of the country whether it is a “dark” type of tourism through the utilization of different marketing strategies (World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) (2001). For instance, this is clearly being exemplified by Africa’s decision to move electronically into ecommerce to promote the various sites and features the country can offer. Despite of this changes, there are countries in Africa like Uganda that continuously preserving their natural nature known as sustainable development instead of considering advanced infrastructures, systems and technology. Actually, the Uganda’s competitive strengths in accordance to their tourism assets are: abundance, diversity, reliability and visibility of wildlife; unspoiled environment and beautiful scenery; low tourist density; safe destination; beaches; authenticity and the ‘unique Uganda experience’ - real Uganda and cultural experiences (Dierke, 2003). From there, what is interesting to find out is how the government of Uganda utilizes strategies to market “dark tourism” or expose those positive traits despite of the killing and death nature of Kanungu.
Aim and Objectives
Although one of the ways this research will be run is through subjective interpretation, objectives are also needed as it will also utilize quantitative researched. For this research paper, the aim is to investigate and evaluate the changes occur in Uganda tourism industry in accordance to their management plan for Kibwetere site in Kanungu. The following objectives will be addressed in the study:
Ø The extent to which different “Dark Tourism” management plan practices affects the success or failure of Uganda tourism industry.
Ø The effects of “Dark Tourism” management plan practices have on Uganda tourism to the tourist visitors in Uganda.
Ø How Dark Tourism itself affects the success or failure of Uganda’s tourism.
Ø Findings in various literatures about the link between Dark Tourism and people’s perception to Uganda.
Importance of the Study
With the establishment of the goals given, this study may also be of importance above the goals that have been set. By fulfilling the aims that were stated in the previous section, this study will be helpful for other researchers who may be focusing on the dark tourism of Uganda or of other areas especially with regards to the method of gathering the information. Such data will hopefully be helpful for researchers in establishing their own means of conducting their study.
At the same time, a study’s greatest importance lies in the information that it is able to give to others, as well as the method in which these information may be used. As dark tourism in Uganda continues to flourish, attention must be given on how these programs must be improved, especially soon. The changing of times provides for changes in attitudes and interests, and thus the tourism industry must also be able to follow in order to ensure their success over the years. In providing available information concerning the changes and the characteristics of the tourist spots in Uganda, improvements by the department can be done as well as development of other tourism areas that may involve other programs. The study may significantly help with the programs themselves in identifying the changes that may be done or the needs of the tourists, as well as avoidance of possible similarities of the areas in an effort to ensure uniqueness of their services.
As such, it can be clearly seen that the information that this study intends to gather aims to be of much help as it can offer to the tourism industry as well as to other researchers attempting to study their own tourist attraction spots even it is categorized as “Dark Tourism”. In a country that is embedded with the stereotypes of problems concerning government, society, and illnesses, it must be remembered that there are still several sides to a country and to the local people who will be able to give the needs of the tourists and be able to satisfy their curiosity concerning the lifestyle, as well as give them a taste of the Uganda culture.
References:
G. (2010) Seven Years Since the Kanungu Massacre. Retrieved February 03, 2010 from http://www.ugpulse.com/articles/daily/People.asp?ID=586.
Dierke, PUC (2003) Tourism in Africa’s economic development: policy and implications. Management Decision, 41(3), 287-295.
World Travel and Tourism Council (2001) World Travel and Tourism Council Year 2001 Satellite Accounting Research and Summary Highlights Worldwide. Retrieved February 03, 2010 from http://www.wttc.org.
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