Travel and tourism is every new day becoming a vital sector for Rwanda’s economic development. 20 years after the 1994 Genocide the return of peace and stability in the country Rwanda has recovered a lot and realized development in terms of social, cultural and economic development. Today Rwanda has one of the fastest growing economies in Africa and today the country has recovered from the limbo that it was in during the civil war that saw nearly a million people dying in the famous 1994 Rwanda Genocide.
Today Rwanda is one of the most popular travel destinations attracting a lot of tourists who visit the country to track the endangered mountain gorillas, watch the wild game, see chimps etc. Despite the past conflict, Rwanda safari trips are becoming more popular and the country has become one of the most attractive destinations in Eastern Africa. The success in tourism and the economy at large can be credited to many factors.
- Rwanda has a provision of well connected road network, luxury bus and efficient mini bus facilities that transport tourists. Whether you are looking at affordable means to connect to various destinations or need luxurious transportation, all options are available.
- 20 years of peace and stability is another factor. Today Rwanda is a very safe and secure destination to visit in Africa.
- Development of accommodation establishments including safari lodges, luxury hotels, campsites etc.
- The consented effort of the Rwandan Government to promote tourism.
- There are also certain special flights that are availed when traveling to Rwanda. Charter flights are also available and commonly used for site seeing and for also those who don’t want to travel by road in Rwanda.
- Though Rwanda has no connection through railways, it is well connected by road network to Uganda and Kenya which has made it easy accessible from these two countries when one is connecting safaris from Uganda and Kenya.
- Rwanda has many tour operators housed in in different cities who help tourists while traveling to the country. Again Rwanda travel tours can also be arranged through the Rwanda Office of Tourism and National Park and Office Rwandaise du Tourisme et des Parcs Nationaux (ORTPN), with some of the main tour operators in Rwanda including;
- National Office for Tourism and National Parks
- International Tours and Travel(ITT)
- Albertine Safaris
- Sat guru Travel and Tour Service
- The Travel Company
All the above together with other factors have lead to steadily developing tourism as the a major source of export earnings in Rwanda. Tourism is currently one of the fastest growing sectors and, as a result, remains high on the government’s agenda.
As the industry is on course to become the leading foreign exchange earner, luring more tourists, as well as attracting substantial investment, especially in the hospitality sector more room for expansion is needed. However with the introduction of new products and venturing into the new market segments, this will help in diversifying the nation’s tourism portfolio, as well as foster sustainability. Despite the increasing contribution of travel and tourism to the national economy, there is still need for a long-term plan if Rwanda is to enjoy mass success on a global scale in tourism.
