Economic and Social Upgrading in Tourism Global Production Networks: Findings from Uganda

Economic and Social Upgrading in Tourism Global Production Networks: Findings from Uganda

Over the last decade, Uganda has re-emerged as a global tourism destination after years of instability. The growth of Uganda's tourism Global Production Network (GPN), however, is slow and is characterised by a few elite firms and highly controlled travel through tightly coordinated distribution channels. Capturing the Gains Research asked how and if economic upgrading in the tourism GPN was happening in Uganda, and if it was followed by social upgrading. This was done by exploring one tourism location: Murchison Falls National Park. The findings suggest that tourism firms pursued vertical and horizontal economic upgrading strategies, while the social upgrading outcomes were mixed. Social upgrading for permanent workers followed economic upgrading for hotels and tourism service providers in Murchison Falls National Park, but not for community members outside the Park. Several aspects, such as the role of Uganda Wildlife Authority concessions, distribution access and local labour market dynamics, are motivating factors in influencing upgrading dynamics.

Date:	2013-05-30
Author:	Francis Mwaura & Michelle Christian

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• Published May 30, 2013