Tourism is regarded as the invisible trade of Uganda and contributes 9% to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of Uganda. The government of Uganda has taken great strides to promote tourism in every aspect from promoting the Rolex to the Silver backs in Bwindi National Park hence justifying the fact that for the tourism industry to grow, marketting is part and parcel of the work.

In the bid to understand what transpires in the tourism industry in uganda and what jobs are like in the industry, we caught up with Kahara Pamela a Tour Consultant at Acacia Safaris, And this is what we asked

Who is Kahara Pamela ? 

I am a tourism enthusiast who loves to see people happy while having value for their money

What is your typical day like at work?

The first thing i do is commit the day in God's hands, then i read through emails sent in by clients since most of my work is done online. I reply them accourding to each one's inquiry, if there is any booking of Hotels is needed i do it and also reservations of rooms for clients at our lodge (Pakuba Safari Lodge) which i also handle. On the other hand i also help out clients who need information about different tourist destinations and i also plan out their trips to different destinations around East Africa.

So why did you choose that career path?

From way back i have always liked to travel, so i realized i have to do Tourism to lead me to the career i was passionate about.

What are your main tasks and responsibilities at work? 

I do room reservation for our clients and also design itineraries for clients who have made inquiries about any tour.
I give information to tourist about different tourist destinations.

Any main challenges in the industry ?

We have seasons in Tourism (High & low) so in the low season there no clients to bring in the money for the business to shift smoothly

What particular skills do you bring to your workplace ? 

Planning and Costing, Customer handling and Marketing skills.

What's cool about your job?

I deal with people who are happy and ready to have fun.

Anything not cool with your job

Sometimes it is hard to meet every client's expectation. Some of their expectations are out of this world.

How did you get your current job ?

I applied for internship which i was given and at the end of my internship i was retained where i have worked up to today.

What subjects did you take in school and how have they influenced your career path (Share how they are relevant in your day to day work) ?

I did Geography, it has helped in knowing the different tourist places and attractions around the world.

What is your Education to date?

I have a Bachelor's Degree in Tourism and currently pursuing a certificate in IATA (International Air Transport Association)

What aspects of your Education System have proven most important for your job?

I learnt how to cost and plan out journeys, which has helped to organise and plan trips for our clients.

What trends are you seeing in your career field ?

I am seeing Information Technology taking over every sector of Tourism. Because without technology we cannot reach other regions in the world and most of our marketing is done on the internet(Through websites, Social media etc). I am also seeing product development trending. New tourism products are developed almost every year, this has helped with the growth of the industry.

What are the most important personal characteristics required for the job?

Patience, persistence and hardwork

Which key people influenced your career direction ?

My parents and mentors.

What is your dream job?

I want to start up my own Tours and Travel Company in the near future.

What have been the most rewarding events in your career so far?

Going for Trade shows, which has helped me meet many people, from different walks of life and i have also gotten connections.

As a student, how did you cope up with the pressure to succeed / excel in class?

I always knew what i wanted in life and what i wanted to do and be in life, so this kept me focused.

What advise would you give someone considering this job?

They should be ready to deal with all kinds of people and passion should be the one drawing them to this Job.

What outside class activities did you engage in that have proved beneficial on your career path (eg clubs, sports etc) ?

Going for every school Trip that was there, which has helped me know different tourist places which i gladly recommend to my clients.

What kind of work experience would provide a good background for this position?

Worked or have trained with a Tours and travel company and also Customer care skills are very important.

Any Concluding remarks

Put God first and He will lead you to your purpose (Career, Business) and always go for a work/job that you are passionate about and not what everyone is doing