ORTPN- Tuesday, 6th January
2009
Tourism has had another successful year,
with a significant impact on Rwanda’s economy,
contributing to job creation, local community development
and a variety of local and international investments.
It is the leading export sector in the country and
is growing continuously.
- Visitor numbers have increased
from 826,374 visitors in 2007 to an estimated 1
million visitors in 2008, 30% increase. Projections
for 2009 see numbers growing to 1.14 million.
- Revenues are estimated to increase
by 54% compared to 2007, rising from USD $138 million
in 2007 to an estimated USD $214 million in 2008.
Revenues in 2009 are projected at USD $224 million,
demonstrating the industry’s growing potential.
Leisure visitors have so far doubled in 2008 compared
to 2007.
The tourism industry contributes significantly
to benefiting the lives of Rwandans generating 343,000
jobs in 2008—an increase of 26% from 2007. Local
communities benefit from tourism through ORTPN’s
Revenue Sharing Scheme which grants 5% of its revenues
towards supporting community projects so as to improve
their welfare. Total support given in 2008 (including
the Revenue Sharing Scheme) totaled Rwf 460, 522,
154 and contributed to the following projects:
- Support for 11 schools comprised of 2600 students;
- Health centers at Banda, Ngange and Gasumo, benefiting
approximately 30,000 community members surrounding
Nyungwe National Park;
- Water tanks and taps were built for communities
surrounding Nyungwe National Park and Volcanoes
National Parks, benefiting nearly 5,800 families;
- From revenues generated by Kwita Izina, Sabyinyo
Silverback Lodge was launched and is fully owned
by communities and contributes greatly to poverty
alleviation; revenues generated from the Sabyinyo
Silverback Lodge were used to construct 26 houses
for vulnerable families living around the Volcanoes
National Park.
As an institution, ORTPN and her partners
have set up a Genocide memorial fund which in 2008
assisted child headed genocide survivors in Nyamata
and the Ntarama Genocide Memorial. More so, ORTPN
through her social responsibility initiatives assisted
earthquake victims in the western province and survivors
of Kirehe floods morally and financially.
Investments in tourism can be seen through
an increase in the number of hotels around the country
from 148 hotels with 2,391 rooms in 2007 to 163 hotels
with 3,552 in 2008. Tour operators and travel agancies
have increased from 34 in 2007 to 48 in 2008.
Other investments see accommodation
improvements in Kigali, Kinigi, Akagera and Nyungwe;
tourism products and experiences being developed at
Nyungwe National Park and Lake Kivu; and investments
in service development and capacity building in conservation
through the Kitabi College for Conservation and Environment
Management (KCCEM).
Maintenance of the integrity and biodiversity
of the national parks is a priority for ORTPN. The
Transboundary Executive Secretariat of the Greater
Virunga Massif Ecosystem was set up to protect the
mountain gorillas of Rwanda, Uganda and DRC was inaugurated
and headquartered in Kigali and chaired by Rwanda.
An MOU between ORTPN (Rwanda) and INECN (Burundi)
for Transboundary collaboration for the protection
of Nyungwe–Kibira Ecosystem was signed. A business
plan for Akagera National Park was developed and agreed
upon by ORTPN and Dubai World in the framework of
investment through public and private partnership.
All these endeavors are being undertaken to ensure
good conservation practices between Rwanda and her
neighboring countries.
The following efforts have contributed
greatly to the positive image Rwanda is developing
as a popular tourism destination: Rwanda won best
African Best Exhibitor for the second year running
at ITB Berlin, the world’s biggest tourism trade
fair. A recent achievement saw Rwanda being voted
among the “Top 10 Countries to Visit in 2009”
by Lonely Planet, one of the world’s leading
travel guides. Rwanda’s main tourism event,
Kwita Izina, which attracts tourists and conservationists
alike to the base of the Virunga mountain chain, has
been instrumental in communicating the success of
Rwanda tourism and conservation.
Rwanda’s up-and-coming ideal destination
that will be featured in 2009 is Nyungwe National
Park. Investments in the park include a state of the
art eco-lodge and a mid-range lodge; a unique, interactive
interpretation center; a canopy walk allowing visitors
to experience the park from a new vantage point; and
a new boat on Lake Kivu to facilitate the primate
product that links Volcanoes National Park with Nyungwe
National Park. Nyungwe boasts 13 primate species,
275 bird species (of which 25 are endemic to the mountainous
Central African region), 250 tree species, and 148
varieties of orchids. Nyungwe is one of the region’s
most distinctive natural attractions and is a great
asset to Rwanda’s tourism portfolio.
Ends.
For further information,
please contact ORTPN office at 576514/576515 or email
info@rwandatourism.com
or visit our website at www.rwandatourism.com
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