As Destination Kasese prepares to host the Tusker Lite Mt. Rwenzori Marathon, one of the anticipated challenges is inadequate accommodation facilities to support the participants.
Upcoming events such as the Rwenzori Theluji Festival featuring the Rwenzori Marathon are expected to tag along with a large tourism traffic and over 10,000 accommodation rooms are required in Kasese and the Metropolitan area.
We have learnt that The Lions Campsite and Sports Centre will be launched to address a portion of the accommodation crisis. The facility will be launched on Heroes Day, 9th June 2023 and currently under final touches to ensure a great customer experience. The Lions Campsite and Sports Centre is located in Kamaiba Upper, Kasese municipality a few meters off the Kasese – Mbarara highway.
Baritazale Kule Benson, one of the directors of the facility revealed that in efforts to ensure adequate accommodation facilities contribute effectively to tourism development plans and objectives, it is logical that the development of the accommodation sector should be a fundamental element of the overall destination planning process.
“We are refurbishing the Lions club project buildings into a modern facility to support tourism and hospitality,” Kule said.
Amos Wekesa the co-founder Mt Rwenzori Marathon says, the Marathon will register not more than 3,000 runners in anticipation for limited accommodation.
Kameli Zepha Bwambale, a business development specialist involved in the development of the Lions Campsite and Sports centre says the new facility will have a sports section to support athletes training and also host an athletics academy for participants of the Community Biodiversity run of the Rwenzori Theluji Festival and the Rwenzori Marathon.
He added; “The facility will also have over 20 standard rooms a camping ground and will also provide group accommodation to tourists. The Lions Campsite and sports centre will further provide conference hall services for group meetings and other town hall events”.
Kule Baritazale who also doubles as the Chairman Kasese Tourism Investors Forum (KTIF) added that homestays will provide the alternative accommodation to runners and participants during the Rwenzori Marathon.
“People should not be much worried about availability of accommodation, KTIF is handling the issue and the progress is positive”, Kule added.
It should be noted that the growth and development of the accommodation sector in particular is intimately related to the overall development and success of tourism destinations in general.
The total supply of bedspaces in relation to a destination’s arrivals figures is a powerful influence on occupancy levels, profitability, employment in the sector, investment and the long-term ability of accommodation providers to retain control over pricing levels.
Similarly, the physical location, density, quality of accommodation, and the extent to which it is balanced with the broader development of infrastructure and tourism-related facilities is an important element in the overall tone or attraction of tourism destinations.
This, in turn, directly influences the ability of destinations to survive in an increasingly competitive international tourism market.
In short, the success of tourism destinations is largely dependent upon the appropriate development of the accommodation sector with facilities like the Lions Campsite and Sports Centre.