Role of Gatuna Border to Uganda Rwanda tourism

The Uganda Rwanda crossing point is pronounced and spelled differently across the two borders; for Ugandans its called Katuna Border post and for Rwandans its called Gatuna border post situated in Gicumbi District, Northern province of Rwanda. In Uganda Gatuna is located in Kabale district, extreme south of Uganda where Bwindi national park is located. With a main purpose of trans border tourist flow between the adjacent countries (Rwanda – Uganda), the border post is open 24 hours and this has improved the economy of surrounding communities and districts due to the tourist inflows especially tourists crossing from Rwanda to visit gorillas in Bwindi forest. Border posts being points between two countries where goods and travelers are authorized for entry into countries have played a big role in the tourism sectors of the adjacent countries.

Regional integration of East Africa has resulted into harmonization of travel requirement on both sides at the border post and this has facilitated increase in both locals and international tourists for both countries.

Gatuna Border, itself acts as a tourist attraction for both countries since borderlines and posts become historic marks that a lot of travelers are interested in visiting. With development brought by the border post to surrounding towns in both countries, tourists are able to obtain quality accommodation, visit the borderline and learn the history plus the culture of the local communities around the board line.

Innovation and knowledge transfer between Rwanda and Uganda are facilitated by Gatuna border in a bid to improve the tourism sectors on both sides. Different ideas can be shared between the two countries through organizations, travel agencies and private tourism stake holders like hotel owners located around the border post. These parties are able to note the feedback from the tourists and travelers that cross the borders and be able to improve on the quality services provided which improves tourism.

Gatuna border expresses the hospitality of both countries to the tourists through the clearing agents and surrounding communities at the border post. With this opportunity being maximized to the fullest, tourists are ushered in with the at most hospitality which makes them comfortable, yearn for more of the country’s hospitality and leave positive reviews which market the countries.

The border post acts an advertisement platform for both countries. With travel agencies and bill boards located the border post, tourists are able to identify first-hand the interesting activities these countries have to offer thus making an appropriate choice.
Advertisement at the border post is also maximized through serving out of brochures about sites and places that have been known it offer a great experience for former tourists.
Gatuna border opens Uganda and Rwanda to local tourists from either country. Having reduced travel requirements, Ugandans and Rwandans are able to travel to either countries for tours and this has greatly improved tourism inflow in both countries thus an increase in tourism revenue.

The border post located in South western Uganda and Northern Rwanda has facilitated identity promotion of both countries. Tourists are known to fancy unique identity in their choice travel thus international identity is a high value asset in the tourism industry. With border post alone both countries are able to showcase their unique identities from as far as the country’s entry points for example the cleanliness and neatness of the Rwandan side is a unique identity that is promoted by the border post.
Gatuna border post has improved border collaboration between Uganda and Rwanda. This has facilitated easy access to valuable knowledge and tactics on how to maximize the tourism sector as a region.

With Gatuna border post in place, there is easy movement between the local communities across the border which facilities interaction between tourists and wide range of local people from both countries. This not only acts as a platform for advertisement as the locals constantly talk about their home countries but also sales the unique identity of either country’s and as earlier stated identity is a high value asset within the tourism sector.
Gatuna border post has also enabled improvement of surrounding communities in both countries through the need to attract tourists to the border post and to provide services to the inflow of tourists that visit.