Ugandan firm Roko Construction has begun reconstruction work on Uganda Hotel Tourism and Training Institute(UHTTI) in what officials say is aimed at “enhancing skills among the tourism sector’s labor force to meet world class standards.”
Also known as Crested Crane Hotel, the building consists of a hotel and a tourism centre. After reconstruction work, the structure will comprise 50 bedrooms and cost total of UGSh24.5 billion.The project is being funded by World Bank.
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Minister for Tourism Prof Ephraim Kamuntu observed that most hotels in Uganda are being managed by foreigners due to lack of competent institutions to train local people in hotel management skills.
“Most of the Managers in our Hotels are foreigners, not because we aren’t equally good but because we lacked competent institutions to train our people in these skills. Today therefore is a landmark in the journey we have been trekking,” he said.
Permanent Secretary in the Tourism Ministry Doreen Katusiime the enhanced and better equipped UHTTI-Jinja will help bridge the skills gap that had beleaguered the tourism sector for years.