Process of becoming a member

1. Contact UCOTA, and we will give you the application form

Phone: +256 (0) 772-657-700/ +256 414501866

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Coming to the office: Palm Courts Plot 7A, Lugogo Bypass Kampala, Uganda

2. Complete the form and return it to UCOTA by any of the above methods

3. UCOTA will review the form

4. UCOTA will visit your enterprise/site and review the site based on criteria above

5. After the site visit, the secretariat will compare any new information with the membership application form

6. UCOTA will make recommendation to the Executive Committee based on the application

7. The Executive Committee will make a decision to accept or reject the application

8. Applicants will be notified within three months

9. Upon notification, membership fees will be invoiced and sent with the membership welcome kit

10. Membership fees will be due within one month of being notified. Should new members fail to pay within one month, the membership fee for the approved membership will be cancelled.

Please note: For continuing members, the CBO will not receive benefits until the balance of the annual subscription fee is paid. If the annual subscription fee is six months overdue, membership benefits will be revoked.

Who can become a meber of UCOTA?

UCOTA membership is open to individuals, associations, corporate bodies and other institutions engaged in or support the business of community tourism. Membership is classified as follows;

• Ordinary membership

• Associate membership

• Honorary membership

Ordinary membership Ordinary members are individuals, associations, corporate bodies or other qualifying organizations with members involved in community tourism enterprises that currently support or are planning to support community development projects with revenue generated from the enterprises. Ordinary member subscribers shall be required to pay an initial membership fee and an annual subscription fee. Ordinary members shall have full voting rights.

Associate membership Associate members are associations, corporate bodies or other qualifying organisations whose activities complement the work of UCOTA in terms of providing high quality services to its members, or whose membership is beneficial to UCOTA. Associate members do not vote but share all other membership privileges, rights and liabilities like ordinary members. Associate member subscribers shall be required to pay an initial membership fee and annual subscription fee.

Honorary membership Honorary members are people or organisations that have made outstanding contributions to community based tourism in Uganda. Such members are appointed by the Executive Committee. Honorary members are exempted from all subscription fees and do not vote.

Click here to apply on line

CTE Awards Process:

1. Take previous year criteria categories and refine. Perhaps add some new categories? (Possible categories: best marketing efforts, best M&E and record keeping, best customer service, most environmentally friendly, most sustainable, biggest community benefits, best efforts at transparency etc.)

2. Two options:

OPTION A.

a. Ask individuals such as tour guides, tour operator, managers, STAR staff, people who are neutral but with knowledge in Uganda’s tourism industry to nominate candidates who they believe exemplify best practices in these categories.

Note: community members may not nominate. Community members are defined as people who are members of a community based organization (for the reason that they are not exposed to a number of different communities, and also to avoid bias).

b. Once nominations have been submitted (late nominations/nominations submitted after the given deadline will not be considered), the list will be published and CBTEs will be notified through UCOTA communications.

c. The UCOTA secretariat and the Pearls Advisory Committee, assuming they are knowledgeableabout community based tourism, shall vote for what they believe is the best in each category.

o Voting shall consist of one vote for the best CTE in each category.

o Each voter shall receive only one vote.

o The candidate with the most votes in each category shall win the award.

d. The winner in each category will be invited to an event where they are recognized, and are asked to give a 2-3 minute speech. Winners shall also be recognized in a post-event press release. Other CTEs will be informed of the winners through UCOTA communications

OPTION B.

a. Ask communities to nominate themselves or another community group, asking specific questions pertaining to a certain category and requesting specific details about the operations, reporting, community development projects, and requiring evidence to corroborate claims. (This method will mimic actual proposal writing, and is to obtain information for marketing collateral as well.)

b. Once nominations have been submitted (late nominations/nominations submitted after the given deadline will not be considered), the list will be published and CBTEs will be notified through UCOTA communications.

c. The UCOTA secretariat will prepare an online survey (Survey Monkey) to allow its stakeholders to vote for which community they believe is the best in each category. Information provided in communities’ applications shall be made available to aid the voting process.

o Voting shall consist of one vote for the best CTE in each category.

o Each voter shall receive only one vote.

o The candidate with the most votes in each category shall win the award.

d. The winner in each category shall be invited to an event where they are recognized, and are asked to give a 2-3 minute speech. Winners shall also be recognized in a post-event press release. Other CTEs will be informed of the winners through UCOTA communications

ORDINARY MEMBERS:

Ordinary members are limited to community based organizations and any individuals representing those organizations. These members must be engaged in the community tourism business whose application shall be approved by the Secretariat. The enterprises of such members should be engaged or willing to engage in community projects from part of the proceeds generated from their enterprises. Ordinary members shall have full voting rights. Ordinary member subscribers shall be required to pay an initial membership fee in addition to the annual subscription fee as determined by the Executive Committee. Once fully subscribed, ordinary members are entitled to benefit from the Association.

Benefits:

Marketing:

• Be included in Uganda’s premier community based tourism marketing initiative, Pearls of Uganda Be featured on the Pearls of Uganda website – the consumer face of UCOTA (www.PearlsofUganda.org)
• Receive supplemental marketing representation for your services and products Gain representation in Kampala and in the market e.g. through trade fairs, and other industry events
• Be included in the print and online Pearls of Uganda marketing materials Gain assistance in branding and access to brochure printing resources, brochure templates, signposts, and Pearls of Uganda plaques
• Gain use of UCOTA and Pearls logos to gain local and international recognition Gain local and international public relations recognition through Pearls of Uganda and UCOTA marketing channels to help boost sales
• Receive UCOTA and Uganda tourism industry news updates through print and online newsletters
• Access a potential sales outlet for crafts through: Exhibitions Featuring work on website and catalog

Capacity building:

• Seize the opportunity to be a part of capacity building in community tourism enterprise development
• Receive access to technical assistance and tourism business skills training, including: business planning, community tourism enterprise development, operations planning, interpretive guiding, tour planning, sales & marketing, craft making, and more!
• Gain access to UCOTA’s library of tourism-related materials, magazines, books, and archive of marketing materials
• Receive access to technical assistance

Advocacy:

• Gain a voice in the tourism industry and at various levels of government through UCOTA’s lobbying efforts for policies related to community tourism and marketing funds for the tourism industry in general
• Gain advise on taxation and other policies
• Receive resource mobilization through notification of funding opportunities and volunteer placement opportunities and facilitation
• Get assistance in writing proposals Have the opportunity to apply for seed capital from UCOTA

Resource mobilization:

Networking:

• Gain access to UCOTA’s extensive dataset of: CBOs – opportunities to network with fellow CTEs and learn from best practices and mistakes) Private sector entities (opportunities to form business relationships for marketing and sales) Public sector stakeholders (opportunities to receive news about the industry and policies affecting operations of CBOs, linkages to local government, trainings) Parastatals (opportunities for partnership, trainings, publicity) International organizations and donors (for funding and partnership opportunities)
• Get opportunities to attend meetings, conferences and networking events – get the chance to meet and work with organizations and individuals with similar goals

Conservation:

• Receive sensitization trainings and other cultural and environmental conservation workshops
• Receive general conservation news

ASSOCIATE MEMBERS:

Associate members are any association, private sector entity or other qualifying organization whose activities complement the work of UCOTA in terms of providing high quality services to its members or whose membership is beneficial to UCOTA. Associate members shall be invited to become members and entered in the Association’s registrar upon completion of a membership application form and payment of the annual subscription.

Benefits:

Marketing:

• Be included in Uganda’s premier community based tourism marketing initiative, Pearls of Uganda
• Be featured on the Pearls of Uganda website – the consumer face of UCOTA (www.PearlsofUganda.org)
• Receive supplemental marketing representation for your services and products
• Gain representation in Kampala and in the market e.g. through trade fairs, and other industry events
• Be included in the print and online Pearls of Uganda marketing materials
• Gain assistance in branding and access to brochure printing resources, brochure templates, signposts, and Pearls of Uganda plaques
• Gain use of UCOTA and Pearls logos to gain local and international recognition as a supporter of sustainable and community tourism
• Gain local and international public relations recognition through Pearls of Uganda and UCOTA marketing channels to help boost sales
• Receive UCOTA and Uganda tourism industry news updates through print and online newsletters; gain opportunities to contribute to the newsletter
• Gain opportunities to add market-ready community tourism experiences to itineraries and lodge offerings
• Gain opportunities to participate in familiarization trips and media trips as they arise, as well as cobranding initiatives with Pearls of Uganda marketing activities

Capacity building:

• Receive guidance on how to work with CTEs in general, and on how you can contribute to community tourism and sustainable tourism
• Gain access to trainings for community tourism product development for communities that you wish to work with specifically, including sensitization drives for new lodges and the staff who are interested in promoting sustainable tourism, as well as sensitization trainings for communities surrounding new lodges
• Receive guidance on how to develop a sales agreement with specified communities
• Gain access to UCOTA’s library of tourism-related materials, magazines, books, and archive of marketing materials
• Gain linkages to communities in the areas in which your business operates
• Gain an opportunity to access UCOTA’s extensive dataset of CBOs, private sector, international organizations and media
• Gain opportunities to network amongst:

Networking:

1. Other private sector stakeholders (opportunities to form business relationships)
2. Public sector stakeholders (opportunities to receive news about the industry and policies affecting operations of accommodations and lodges, linkages to local government, trainings) o
3. Industry organizations and associations (opportunities for news, partnership, trainings, publicity)

• Get opportunities to attend meetings, conferences and networking events – get the chance to meet and work with organizations and individuals with similar goals
• Gain a voice in the tourism industry and at various levels of government through UCOTA’s lobbying efforts for policies related to community tourism and marketing funds for the tourism industry in general
• Gain advise on taxation and other policies

Advocacy:

Conservation:

• Gain opportunities to receive sensitization trainings for staff
• Receive general conservation news Corporate Membership: Corporate members are firms, institutions, association bodies, organizations, corporate-level businesses, and individuals who provide auxiliary services to community tourism and the tourism sector in general.

CORPORATE MEMBERSHIP:

Corporate members may become members upon completion of a membership application form and payment of the annual corporate subscription.

Benefits:

Marketing:

• Be included in Uganda’s premier community based tourism marketing initiative, Pearls of Uganda Be featured on UCOTA & Pearls of Uganda online and print marketing materials
• Be featured on the Pearls of Uganda website – the consumer face of UCOTA (www.PearlsofUganda.org)
• Get an opportunity to contribute to or advertise in both print and online newsletters
• Receive a profile on the webpage Receive supplemental marketing representation for your services and products
• Receive opportunities for cobranding with Pearls of Uganda marketing initiatives
• Gain additional logo exposure Get opportunities to display your company’s marketing materials (inc. banners & brochures) at UCOTA-organized events
• Gain use of UCOTA and Pearls logos to gain local and international recognition as a supporter of sustainable and community tourism
• Gain opportunities to contribute to the newsletter through feature articles or advertising
• Receive discounts for exhibitions and events organized by UCOTA
• Gain opportunities to participate in familiarization trips and media trips as they arise

Capacity building:

• Receive guidance on how to work with CTEs in general, and on how you can contribute to community tourism and sustainable tourism
• Gain access to trainings for community tourism product development for communities that you wish to work with specifically, including sensitization drives for staff who are interested in promoting sustainable tourism, as well as sensitization trainings for communities
• Gain access to UCOTA’s library of tourism-related materials, magazines, books, and archive of marketing materials
• Gain linkages to communities in the areas in which your business operates
• Gain an opportunity to access UCOTA’s extensive dataset of CBOs, private sector, international organizations and media
• Gain opportunities to network amongst:

Networking:

1. Other private sector stakeholders (opportunities to form business relationships)
2. Public sector stakeholders (opportunities to receive news about the industry and policies affecting operations of accommodations and lodges, linkages to local government, trainings)
3. Industry organizations and associations (opportunities for news, partnership, trainings, publicity)

• Get opportunities to attend meetings, conferences and networking events – get the chance to meet and work with organizations and individuals with similar goals
• Receive free entry to paid-UCOTA events

Conservation:

• Gain opportunities to receive sensitization trainings for staff
• Receive general conservation news

Other

• Receive discounts at community tourism sites, or complimentary tourism experiences at a community tourism enterprises (2x/year, 2 staff members max.)
• Receive assistance in organizing a company retreat and other community-tourism related services

FOUNDER MEMBERS:

Founder members are the individuals who founded UCOTA as an NGO in 1995. Founder members may not necessarily remain active in the association, but are eligible to receive the same benefits of an ordinary member, provided the individual’s subscription is renewed annually.

• Should the subscription to membership be inactive, founder members are entitled to the following benefits:
• Receive recognition on the UCOTA website Receive monthly updates through on UCOTA activities through the monthly e-newsletter, provided UCOTA has updated contact information
• Receive bi-annual updates on UCOTA activities through the Pearls of Uganda Post printed newsletter, provided UCOTA has updated contact information Receive timely consultation on community tourism enterprise development, or advice on boosting community tourism-related business when the need arises.

HONORARY MEMBERS:

Honorary members are individuals who are so awarded by the executive committee of the Association for making an outstanding contribution to community tourism in Uganda. These are exempt from all membership fees and subscriptions, and do not have voting rights. Honorary membership is for a period of one year. Honorary members are entitled to the following benefits:

• Receive a plaque or certificate of recognition
• Receive monthly updates through on UCOTA activities through the monthly e-newsletter, provided UCOTA has updated contact information
• Receive bi-annual updates on UCOTA activities through the Pearls of Uganda Post printed newsletter, provided UCOTA has updated contact information
• Receive opportunities to attend meetings, conferences and networking events – have the chance to meet and work with organizations with similar goals
• Gain access to UCOTA’s library of tourism-related materials, magazines, books, and archive of marketing materials.