Air transport and tourism development in Uganda a case of Entebbe International Airport Wakiso District

Abstract

The study was carried out with the aim of finding out air transport on tourism development a case study of Entebbe international airport in Wakiso district. The objectives for the study was; To find out the role of terminal building on tourism development, to find out the role of parking space on tourism development and to find out the role of runways on tourism development. The researcher applied both qualitative and quantitative techniques in designing the research. A total of 30 respondents participated in the study and were selected using convenience sampling and random sampling method. The data was collected using questionnaires and interviews and presented using tables, graphs and pie charts for easy analysis. The study cited tourism development as source of employment, source of government revenue, and they are the major source of foreign exchange earners in most part of the world .The industry is one of the most important sectors of a nation’s economy as they provide and create jobs, especially during times of holidays (summer break); they are a source of innovation and entrepreneurial spirit; they harness individual creative effort; and they create competition and are the seed bed for businesses of the future The study also highlighted negative and positive effect of air transport on tourism development. It relied on content analysis from the existing studies, and the outcome revealed that tourism infrastructures like air transport is inimical and constitutes to tourism development.It was however recommended that since tourism development plays a great role towards community livelihoods the government should lay strategies in order to improve on the sustainability and growth of the tourism activities and livelihoods of the local communities. It was also recommended that the government develops different strategies such as formation of tourism association, formation of ministry of tourism and wildlife antiquity, exempting some tourism establishment from paying taxes and looking for investors to invest in the sectors and others and promote the industry.