How Much Does Gorilla Tourism in Bwindi Contribute to the Economy? Bwindi is located in the southwestern part of Uganda, on the border with the Democratic Republic of Congo and adjacent to Virunga National Park along the Albertine Rift. It covers an area of 331 sq kilometers, featuring both montane and lowland forests, which are home to a variety of wildlife species.
Bwindi was established as a national park and is governed by the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA), a government agency responsible for tourism management in the park. The wildlife species in the park include 120 mammal species, 350 bird species, 310 butterfly species, 27 frog species, and 11 primate species, including mountain gorillas, the park’s main tourist attraction.
Additionally, the park boasts over 200 tree species, more than 1,000 flowering plants, and 104 fern species. Bwindi is home to 20 mountain gorilla families spread across its four sectors: Buhoma, Ruhija, Rushaga, and Nkuringo. The primary reason for establishing Bwindi as a national park was to protect endangered mountain gorillas from poaching, diseases, and habitat loss.
Currently, Bwindi is home to about 459 mountain gorilla individuals, representing nearly half of the world’s remaining wild population. The park experiences a tropical climate, with annual rainfall ranging from 1,400 mm to 1,900 mm, and temperatures ranging from a minimum of 7°C to 15°C and a maximum of 20°C to 27°C.
How Much Does Tourism in Bwindi Contribute to the Economy?
Tourism in Bwindi is a major source of revenue for the government of Uganda, primarily because of its mountain gorillas, which make Bwindi Impenetrable National Park one of the most popular destinations worldwide. As a result, tourism is a significant contributor to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in Uganda’s tourism sector.
Tourism in Bwindi contributes about 2.5% of the GDP, generating income through park entry fees, gorilla permits, and other related sources, accounting for 60% of the country’s tourism revenue. Bwindi receives about 20,000 tourists annually from around the world, making it the leading contributor to the GDP among all the national parks and tourist attractions in Uganda.
Uses of Revenue from Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
- Payment of Conservation Costs: A portion of the funds generated by Bwindi is used to cover the conservation costs for wildlife in the park. This includes protecting the mountain gorillas, the forests, and other wildlife species present in the park.
- Development of Community Projects: Revenue from the national park is also used by the Uganda Wildlife Authority to support the local communities surrounding the park, including the construction of hospitals and schools, such as those for the Batwa people.
Bwindi is the leading contributor to Uganda’s GDP in the tourism sector, being the most popular and most visited national park in the country.
