Uganda Tourism Board’s ‘Rwenzori- The Source of Life’ film has been recognized among the World’s Best Tourism Films and awarded under the Tourism Product category at the 35th World Tourism Film Awards in Valencia, Spain.
Held on November 22nd, the event, organised by the International Committee of Tourism Film Festivals (CIFFT), brought together representatives from tourism organizations, creative agencies, and diplomatic corps from across the globe.
The occasion held at the Auditorium Mar Rojo in Oceanogràfic, Valencia marked the recognition of the World’s Best Tourism Films in five competitive categories: Tourism Destination Cities, Regions, Countries, Tourism Products, and Tourism Services.
Internationally recognized content created by the world’s most innovative storytellers and broadcasters from over 3,000 entries from over 50 countries participated in the CIFFT Circuit 2023, a unique platform that brings corporate and tourism film festivals around the world to award the best audio-visual productions in the tourism industry.
UTB’s Rwenzori – The Source of Life was a awarded the 3rd Place in the Tourism Product Category following its submission in January 2023.
The film also won the 2023 Gold Award at the New York Film Festival in the Tourism Category, a global celebration of creative excellence.
The film production supported by UNDP, Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife & Antiquities, Uganda Tourism Board and Tooro Kingdom was produced by Aner Extebarria Production Company under the Campaign – Conserving Mountain Ecosystems – to highlight the beauty and splendor of the Rwenzori Mountain ranges as one of the remaining equatorial glaciers in the world.
Speaking about this achievement, the Minister for Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities Hon. Tom Butime noted that the recognition will further market Uganda to the world but also create awareness on the need to support culture and heritage tourism.
“The award Rwenzori Royal Expedition is a creative approach to promote awareness on the restoration and protection of areas affected by climate change, but also to drum up support for culture and heritage tourism promotion in our country,” said Hon Butime.
Tooro Kingdom Minister of Tourism Owekitinisa Joan Kantu Elsie said the award is a step towards reinforcing efforts to preserve the nature of the Rwenzoris as well as promoting cultural tourism.
“The CIFFT 2023 Award is an important milestone in the efforts to preserve the crown of snow on the Rwenzori Mountains. We must continue to tackle the effects of climate change in our society. I’m happy that his Majesty is spearheading this effort in our country and particularly in Tooro Kingdom,” Kantu said.
According to a statement issued by UTB, the award has exposed the untapped tourism product development opportunities available in the Rwenzori region such as; mountain tourism, complimented by wildlife safaris, primate tracking, bird watching in the Queen Elizabeth, Kibale and Bwindi Impenetrable National Parks, accented by culture and heritage of the local communities.
“This world-class documentary highlights how we must take urgent action to preserve and conserve fragile mountain ecosystems such as the Rwenzori Mountains, whose health is vital for the development and prosperity of Uganda and Africa as a whole,” Ms. Elsie Attafuah, UNDP Resident Representative remarked.
The Rwenzori Ecosystem is home to 54 Albertine rift endemic species; 18 mammal species, 09 reptile species, 06 amphibian and 21 bird species.
In 1994, the Rwenzori Mountains were named a UNESCO World heritage site and later as a Ramsar Site in 2008 due to the unique beauty and vegetation zones marked by grassland, montane forest, Bamboo, heather and afro-alpine moorland zones which support diverse species of bird and other wildlife.