TMCnet News
Ye Sells Uganda to China With Passion(AllAfrica Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) Curiosity about ancient Egyptian culture led Cathy Ye to Uganda, a country she had never heard of until a search on the internet for the source of the Nile. The first impression she got was that of a very hot and dangerous country. Hardly anyone she knew had been there; so, there was no way of corroborating her internet search findings. Then she came across an article about birds and River Nile, which she found rather interesting and made up her mind to visit this country. But Ms Ye was worried. What would she eat? Besides, she couldn't find a tour company in China arranging for visits to Uganda. Ms Ye ended up talking to a shipping company instead and together with the help of Uganda's consulate in Guangzhou, her trip was set. However, just before she could embark on the adventure, Ebola broke out in Uganda and she developed cold feet. It was after assurances from the consulate that she would be safe that Ye came to Uganda two years ago alongside 15 other Chinese nationals. All were impressed by almost everything they saw. Ms Ye has since become an unofficial ambassador of Uganda tourism in China. Her knowledge of English and that two-week experience in the country make her a significant resource in Uganda's ambitious bid to woo Chinese tourists. At the China Guangdong International Tourism Expo 2014 in Guangzhou last month, bespectacled Ye paced up down the Ugandan stall, talking confidently about what Uganda has to offer with such a passion that one would be forgiven to think she was actually Ugandan. "At the airport [Entebbe], the air wasn't as hot as I had expected. Then there were happy children waving and running after us wherever we went, which made it the first time I felt foreign," Ms Ye says of her memorable visit. With China producing more outbound tourists than any other country last year, Uganda Tourism Board (UTB) is seeking to diversify by looking east, hence Uganda's first participation in the Guangzhou tourism expo. Tasty fruits Yet if UTB's strategic foray into China is to succeed, people like Ye are critical. Fortunately, Ms Ye has only nice things to say about Uganda. The food was fresh and sweet. The pineapple, watermelon and avocado were tasty. Even kitchen staff in hotels were friendly. In the markets, vendors readily advised on which avocado was ready to eat and which one wasn't. "We loved the people, they were very good. And food was cheap," Ye added. Even with the difficulty of pronunciation, some of the places Ms Ye has fond memories of are unmistakable; Jinja (Nile Resort), Fort Portal, Igongo museum (Mbarara), Samuka island (Jinja). Yet Ye is not a conventional tourist. An enthusiast of the spiritual world, her business card bears some interesting, if not bizarre, lines. Beyond the boundaries of the spiritual life. Walk on earth, understand the enlightenment and find the source of life. Unusual tour routes. Not just sightseeing tourists. The last line captures not only Ye's personal interest, but also the uniqueness of a Chinese tourist compared to his or her Western counterpart. It was noted during the expo that unlike European or American tourists who tend to be fascinated by wildlife, the typical Chinese tourist is more interested in people's culture and way of life. Indeed, Ye is already working on her next trip during which her party will explore Ugandan culture, including the phenomenon of totems which she finds fascinating, and to discover hot springs and their role in healing. Ye's story has understandably attracted significant interest and inquiries. As she spoke of her experience in Uganda at a dinner organised by the consulate for potential tourists, many in her audience looked on with admiration. "But they worry about how they can get there; there is little information," she says. Also, given the language barrier, Chinese who wish to visit Uganda prefer to travel alongside a Chinese guide and yet Ye can't travel with each one of them. But unlike two years ago, when Ye's only source of information was the internet, her contacts today have the luxury of a first-person account of what Uganda is like, and it's all positive. Copyright The Observer. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com). |