Key tourism issues discussed during AUTO Annual General Meeting.
On Friday 25th June 2015 at Serena Hotel Kampala, the Association of Uganda Tour Operators had their annual general meeting. The new committee highlighted numerous important tourism successes since they came into office last July. Starting at 3:30pm, the Serena Hotel Kampala sponsored drink concluded the conference at 6:30pm. Some of the main ideas covered at the conference are below.
UWA will grant AUTO gorilla commissions.
The chairperson disclosed that following their ongoing conversation with Uganda Wildlife Authority, a memorandum of understanding will be signed on July 1, 2015 whereby Uganda Wildlife Authority will begin granting free gorilla permits to the Association of Uganda Tour Operators in order to honor AUTO members in their capacity as main tourism partners.
The Executive Director Uganda Wildlife Authority said that UWA would provide complimentary permits whose number is still unknown for every thirty gorilla permits bought by AUTO members. This will start three months from now. Members present were advised by Association of Uganda Tour Operators that the specified gorilla permits would thereafter be supplied to members at a reduced price.
This delighted members who praised the newly appointed committee for their excellent work. Originally, Uganda Wildlife Authority used to pay USD 10 every permit purchased by any Association of Uganda Tour Operator letter discarded.
Since the day today financing and operating of the organization depends on this commission as well as membership fee to generate money to maintain the association, this development crippled them. Having gone through a tough phase, this was considered as the appropriate action at the appropriate moment in the appropriate direction.
AUTO Formulation Five-year strategic agenda
The chairman told those present that Association of Uganda Tour Operators would not be able to go on operating without a clear strategy. She claimed that the group has obtained money from UNDP (United Nations Development Project) to help finance a five-year development plan that would be implemented by the association to meet the intended aims and objectives.
She also promised members present that by the conclusion of 2015, this strategic plan would be ready and given to them. The Association is now looking for experts who will be handling this assignment. Members will be consulted on what they believe should be included in the plan so that the project seems to be all-inclusive.
Consultant in Taxes to be recruited
It was also revealed that Tourism has been for the first time identified and earmarked by the government of Uganda as a major sector which could help the nation to raise taxes as well as foreign exchange for the country and as such, tour operators who have been running without taxes are probably going to be targeted.
She said that the Association will now recruit a tax consultant who will then be in position to advise members on tax issues so that they are not caught un aware by Uganda Revenue Authority. Having arranged a tax workshop early this year where members of the Association of Uganda Tour Operators advised on how to prepare their accounts in relation to taxes, the Association will now move to hire a tax consultant.
AUTO cells added
The chairperson was quick to notify members present that The Association of Uganda Tour Operators had started a policy of bring their services closer to its members and other tour operators and as so AUTO had launched a cell project whereby each district/region would meet with AUTO to discuss matters of tourism affecting each region and that cells had been formed and AUTO had meet with both members and none members to listen to them. She also said that AUTO is working on several ideas and concerns that sprung up from this. Moreover, a lot of former non AUTO members have registered to join.
Another important topic covered with members complaining it would be unfair for some to pay much while others were paying less was establishing another type of membership which is somewhat less expensive with fewer perks. All things considered, this conference demonstrated that the new executive committee had accomplished something in a short period of time and that members now believed they might begin to enjoy positive results of intelligent voting.
