ABOUT US
WHO WE ARE
Tourism Research and Development Centre (TRDC) is a leading independent not-for-profit tourism and hospitality research centre in Uganda and the premier provider of quality timely and reliable data and information. We work closely with government, development agencies, tourism practitioners and experts, academia, the private sector, and local communities to generate evidence based solutions.
Founded in 2022 by a consortium of highly trained and competent tourism and enterprise development consultants, researchers and educators, TRDC brings together like minded tourism professional experts who are inspired and driven by a common interest to improve the tourism and hospitality landscape by undertaking knowledge creation through quality research, supporting individuals and enterprises to adopt innovative and evidence-based solutions, capacity building through trainings and mentorship, exchange of ideas and information sharing and supporting organisations develop plans and policies that empower individuals and enterprises to contribute to sustainable tourism development.
OUR VISION AND MISSION
To undertake cutting edge research in various development fields including tourism and its related areas and provide and quality evidence based research that informs and positively impacts socioeconomic planning and policy formulation.
Our vision is supported by our commitment to the following four missions:
1) Rigorous and industry-relevant tourism knowledge creation;
2) Industry engagement and partnership;
3) Research education and mentorship; and
4) Ethical and responsible scholarship.
Our mission is to help our client’s organisations and businesses to grow by use of highly participatory methodologies, maintaining objectivity and originality in approach to business needs. Our cutting-edge approach ensures delivery of dependable and highly innovative solutions. Using a rich human capital base, our approach involves the identification and application of best practices, analytical techniques, and sharing of knowledge
OUR EXPERTISE AT YOUR SERVICE
The TRDC research team has diverse training backgrounds, extensive competencies and wide-range experience in various fields and above all a passion to create positive change. These qualities distinguish TRDC from other organisations and accounts for our satisfied and growing client portfolio that includes tourism private sector associations, hotel establishments, government ministries and agencies, community enterprises, international development partners, among others.
Our core strength lies in conducting independent research, data analytics, professional and capacity building training, strategic planning, policy analysis, technical and financial advisory support services to individuals, enterprises, institutions and organisations. We believe in delivery of valid and reliable information collected through robust methodologies that capture the true voices of the target respondents. Our understanding is that impactful research comes from asking of the right questions to the right people in a professional way. Over the years we have conducted several studies which have helped our clients to make the right decisions. In the area of research, we integrate both technology and orthodox approaches to data collection, processing and analysis. We are always open to partnerships in the field of research because of our ability to reach and gather data from areas that few people are able to reach.
Over the last ten years, we have successfully built our capacity to support implementation of development projects. Our role has always featured prominently during program design, monitoring and evaluation. We have worked on projects in areas of tourism development, strategic planning, community tourism, urban tourism, agrotourism, culinary tourism, handicraft development, water and sanitation development, poverty eradication and disaster management among others. Some of the clients include Government Ministries and Departments, UN organizations and other reputable international organization.
OUR TEAM - Multidisciplinary and Complementary
Sustainability and Education Expert
Jim is a professional who has over the last 23 years been engaged in various assignments as an educationist, consultant and researcher in conservation management, sustainable tourism planning, destination management and development. Jim’s fields of expertise include: Sustainable Management and Planning in natural landscapes, natural resources planning and management; Tourism products appraisal and planning, land use planning, national and regional tourism policy and institutional analysis; community livelihoods enhancement, among others. With a PhD in Environmental and Geographical Sciences from the University of Cape Town – South Africa (2008) and a Masters of Degree in Land Use & Regional Development Planning from Makerere University. Jim is an Associate Professor at Makerere University and has a solid academic background and experience in conservation and environmental management planning
Planning and Development Expert
Celestine is highly proficient in national planning and development with experience of over 15 years. He has served as team leader and core team member on teams that formulated Uganda’s National Tourism Development Plans, profiling of investment opportunities on Lake Victoria and River Nile, tourism development master plan, review of Uganda’s tourism legal and regulatory frameworks and strategic plans for government and private sector agencies in tourism in the EAC region. With a PhD in Tourism Entrepreneurship and a Master of Business Administration from Makerere University, Celestine has strong knowledge and understanding of the national and international tourism development and overall business landscape.
International Tourism and Hospitality Management Expert
James has over 20 years of research, training and consultancy experience, with core expertise and competencies in hospitality management, hotel business planning, quality assurance, tourism marketing. PhD (Cand) Tourism in developing countries, Masters in International Hospitality management, Dip. Hotel Management (Utalii-Kenya)
Private Sector and Business Development Expert
Richard has over 10 years of research, training and consultancy experience, with core expertise and competencies in private sector operations, partnerships building, resource mobilisation, tourism and hotel investment planning, communication strategy, and policy development. He holds a Master of Business Administration, and his a Certified East African Hotel classification assessor and a certified procurement professional by the Netherland body Perspective (NEV). Richard is a professional and experienced tourism and hospitality educator. He was the head of Tourism Department at Makerere University Business School and his is currently the Principal of the Uganda Hotel and Tourism Training Institute (UHTTI) in Uganda