Regional
How Rwanda became a premier destination for global travelers
While
addressing the 23rd World Travel and Tourism Council Global summit in Rwanda,
on November 2, Rwandan President Paul Kagame said the country had emerged to be
a global travel destination.
Three
decades ago, Rwanda experienced its darkest moment in the 1994 Genocide against
Tutsi. More than one million Tutsi were killed in three months. The economy was
ravaged. At the time, Rwanda was seen as a failed state, far from being a
tourist destination.
“This
was a place that people fled from, a situation that the world looked away from,
in horror. But we vowed not to let the past define us. That is how, early on,
we identified tourism as a key driver of economic growth, and employment,”
Kagame said.
It is
not by accident that Rwanda has quickly risen to be one of the world's must-see
destinations, thanks to the country’s commitment to conservation and
responsible tourism.
How
did the small East African country become a global travel destination?
Rwanda's
tourism sector is based on its natural beauty. Among others, there is the
remarkable Gorilla trekking experience in the Volcanoes National Park.
The
Rwandan government, through Rwanda Development Board (RDB), in collaboration
with conservation partners, successfully protected and increased the endangered
mountain gorilla population, and preserved its habitats, making them one of the
top most visited animals in Rwanda.
Through mountain gorilla conservation and re-introduction of threatened and endangered species, the country improved its tourism sector, ranking it the global travel destination.
Rwandan gorilla conservation is grounded in community involvement. To protect endangered wild animals, local populations must be mobilized and integrated, and state laws must be established to address conflicts between humans and wild animals.
Rwanda's
sustainable tourism has become a regional and global solution for nature
conservation, saving world treasures, mountain gorillas.
Related: How
giving back to community boosted Rwanda's gorilla conservation effort
Rwanda's
commitment to conservation and the protection of national parks and ecosystem
has enabled the country to achieve significant conservation achievements.
Among
the key conservation strategies was the expansion of the Akagera National Park
buffer zone, the long-term protection of Nyungwe and Akagera National Park
through a unique partnership with African Parks, and the rehabilitation and
establishment of Gishwati-Mukura National Park.
Travelers
can also track chimpanzees in Africa’s oldest rainforest, Nyungwe Forest
National Park, or spot the Big Five in Akagera National Park, one of the
biggest attractions in Akagera where by the travelers get to see the lions,
elephants, buffalos, leopards, and rhinos.
Rwanda
also harnessed the power of sports in promoting tourism. Partnerships
with major European football clubs played a pivotal role in promoting the
country's tourism sector. Rwanda partnered with German football club Bayern
Munich, marking its third major football club partnership, following deals with
Arsenal and PSG.
According
to CNN Travel, Rwanda is on the list of 23 destinations that are the best
destinations in the world to visit in 2023.
Related: How
Rwanda is investing in ecotourism, conservation
Despite
the immense challenges the country faced, it has managed to achieve impressive
security and political stability that enables visitors to feel safe and secure
while visiting the country.
The
country’s safety allows travelers to travel unaccompanied throughout the
country.
Rwanda
is a rare example of how luxury eco-tourism is driving the country’s travel
industry to great heights.
The
tourism industry in Rwanda continues to be one of the fastest-growing sectors,
generating millions of dollars in revenue each year.
So far, the $247 million generated in the first half of 2023, was a 56 per cent increase compared to $158 million in 2022. The country aims to increase tourism receipts to $800 million by 2024.