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Destination competitiveness challenges: A Ugandan perspective

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  • Ayikoru, Maureen

Abstract

This paper analyses and explicates the limiting role of multiple and varied challenges in the realisation of a country's tourism potential using Uganda as an exemplar. Two objectives are pursued, one that entails an assessment of the competitive potential of Uganda's tourism and another, an explication of the challenges that limit its full realisation. The study is based on secondary data supplemented through in-depth interviews with some key informants in Ugandan tourism. The paper identifies disparities in destination product and demand patterns, inadequate marketing budgets in the face of a persistent negative image and inadequate institutional and managerial capabilities as key challenges. It concludes that the complexity of challenges faced by Uganda, a non-traditional destination, makes the notion of competitive advantage used in conventional strategy and tourism destinations competitiveness literature seem inappropriate. This has implications for tourism development and management in such destinations with particular focus on resource allocation and utilisation.

Suggested Citation

  • Ayikoru, Maureen, 2015. "Destination competitiveness challenges: A Ugandan perspective," Tourism Management, Elsevier, vol. 50(C), pages 142-158.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:touman:v:50:y:2015:i:c:p:142-158
    DOI: 10.1016/j.tourman.2015.01.009
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    Cited by:

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    2. Shengrui Zhang & Lei Chi & Tongyan Zhang & Yingjie Wang, 2023. "Optimization of Tourism Management Based on Regional Tourism Competitiveness Evaluation: Evidence from Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(12), pages 1-22, June.
    3. José Alberto Martínez-González & Vidina Tais Díaz-Padilla & Eduardo Parra-López, 2021. "Study of the Tourism Competitiveness Model of the World Economic Forum Using Rasch’s Mathematical Model: The Case of Portugal," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(13), pages 1-20, June.
    4. Paulo H A Feitosa & Amanda B A Silva, 2022. "Length of stay and satisfaction shaping the competitiveness of international business tourism in São Paulo city, Brazil," Tourism Economics, , vol. 28(3), pages 728-747, May.
    5. Kateøina Mlejnková & Tomáš Dania & Ida Rašovská, 2021. "Quality of a Rural Destination: Visitor and Resident Approach," Academica Turistica - Tourism and Innovation Journal, University of Primorska Press, vol. 14(1), pages 87-99.
    6. McCamley, Claire & Gilmore, Audrey, 2017. "Aggravated fragmentation: A case study of SME behaviour in two emerging heritage tourism regions," Tourism Management, Elsevier, vol. 60(C), pages 81-91.
    7. Manrai, Lalita A. & Lascu, Dana-Nicoleta & Manrai, Ajay K., 2020. "A study of safari tourism in sub-Saharan Africa: An empirical test of Tourism A-B-C (T-ABC) model," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 119(C), pages 639-651.
    8. Croes, Robertico & Ridderstaat, Jorge & Shapoval, Valeriya, 2020. "Extending tourism competitiveness to human development," Annals of Tourism Research, Elsevier, vol. 80(C).
    9. Abreu Novais, Margarida & Ruhanen, Lisa & Arcodia, Charles, 2018. "Destination competitiveness: A phenomenographic study," Tourism Management, Elsevier, vol. 64(C), pages 324-334.
    10. Sevinc ASLAN & Mithat Zeki DİNCER, 2018. "A Conceptual Framework of Visiting Friends and Relatives," Journal of Tourismology, Istanbul University, Faculty of Economics, vol. 4(1), pages 21-34, June.

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