In April 2017, Uganda unveiled a Coffee Road Map with nine initiatives, aiming to transform its coffee industry and impact up to 1.5 million households. Among these initiatives, coffee tourism emerged as a potential avenue for growth, garnering interest from stakeholders and culminating in a joint symposium by the Uganda Tourism Board and the Uganda Coffee Development Authority in 2018.

Challenges and Focus

In light of Uganda's developing tourism sector, coffee tourism emerges as a strategy to stimulate social-economic development. As the government exhibits a progressive stance toward innovation in the coffee industry, this research seeks to explore the potential of coffee tourism to catalyze growth across these sectors and to identify the necessary practical steps to realize this potential.

Complex Landscape and Goals

Coffee tourism's integration into Uganda's socio-economic fabric is multifaceted. The interplay of stakeholders, community dynamics, traditions, and government influence adds layers of complexity to its potential benefits. The research recognizes the need to align government objectives with community well-being and sustainable outcomes.

Research Objectives and Sub-Questions

The research aims to build upon existing global coffee tourism investigations and Uganda's interest in coffee production, seeking to answer the following sub-questions:

• Does Uganda possess the prerequisites for successful coffee tourism as evidenced elsewhere?
• Are the essential actors for a viable coffee tourism value chain present, with the interest and capabilities to develop the product?
• Can coffee tourism generate inclusive growth if successfully implemented?
• What are the prospects for successful coffee tourism in Uganda?

Research Methodology

This study follows two research strands, exploring the synthesis of the government-backed coffee sector and the nascent tourism sector. The evaluation centers on the potential of incorporating tourism into the sustainable coffee value chain. A value chain analysis methodology guides the research, combining desk work and remote interviews to assess the implications of tourism on the region's development.

Coffee Tourism's Promise and Challenges

Coffee tourism in Uganda is a budding concept, primarily existing within established tourism routes, capitalizing on niche offerings and schedule gaps. The research seeks to unveil whether coffee tourism's benefits can serve as a tool for inclusive development that meets basic needs that would have otherwise remained unaddressed.

Potential and Hurdles

While the promise of doubled income for coffee farmers through coffee tourism is tantalizing, its realization requires deliberate planning and collaboration. Successful instances highlight the importance of existing tourist flows, quality coffee, and collaborative networks among producers and enterprises. The growth potential on a local scale appears more viable than at a national level.

Conclusion and Future Prospects

Coffee tourism holds potential for local growth and stable incomes for coffee producers when thoughtfully executed. On a broader scale, integration with national tourism efforts requires enhanced linkages between coffee production and tourism. While significant national-level growth might be limited, localized success stories provide insights into doubling farmers' revenue and establishing sustainable practices.

Further exploration using the value chain model coupled with on-the-ground fieldwork could shed more light on coffee tourism's existing impacts and the returns on investment it could yield in the future.