In a bid to bridge the gap between theoretical concepts and practical applications in tourism, first-year Bachelor of Travel and Tourism Management (BTTM) students recently embarked on a five-day field study tour to Western Uganda.
The tour, conducted from June 4th to 9th, 2025, provided students with invaluable hands-on learning experiences in critical areas including tour guiding, sustainable tourism, animal behavior, community tourism planning, and cultural and heritage tourism.
This competency-based, experiential learning approach is a key component of the year-one curriculum, offering students direct exposure to real-world tourism practices. The field tour serves as a foundational case study that will support continued learning across future course units. The entire program was meticulously planned and structured by the department team, ensuring students were well-prepared through ongoing briefings and engagement prior to departure. During the five days, students engaged closely with natural environments, local communities, and tourism professionals, enriching their understanding of the industry’s diverse facets. They had the opportunity to interact with various categories of tour guides, including site, cultural, community, and wildlife guides, gaining insights into the different perspectives and professional practices within the sector.
The tour began with a focus on cultural and heritage tourism, highlighting the sustainability and significance of Uganda’s indigenous cultural sites. On the first day, students visited the Ttanda Walumbe archaeological pits, an important historical site steeped in Buganda legends, mythology, and folklore. Rather than passive observers, students actively participated in guided tours that emphasized respect for the site’s norms and traditions.
The group also explored Entanda Cultural Adventure, a community-based tourism (CBT) site dedicated to the preservation, practice, education, and promotion of Buganda’s indigenous culture. This visit underscored the potential of community tourism as a sustainable development tool that fosters cultural heritage conservation and economic empowerment. Overall, the field study tour successfully aligned with the academic and professional objectives of the BTTM curriculum, providing students with practical knowledge and experiential insights essential for their future careers in tourism management.