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| Rwanda:
Tourism Industry Beats Coffee, Tea to Earn U.S.$42.3m |
East African Business Week (Kampala)
28 January 2008
Bosco Hitimana
i
Rwanda's tourism industry
emerged the top foreign currency earner generating
revenues worth US$42.3million overtaking coffee and
tea industries in 2007.
Coffee and tea industries earned $35.7million and
$31.5million respectively. Rwanda has prioritised
coffee, tea and tourism industries as key economic
contributors to boost her exports by earning reasonable
bundles of foreign currencies.
.The Rwanda Office of Tourism and
National Parks (ORTPN)-a government institution mandated
for promotion of tourism and conservation of national
parks, indicate that tourism ranked the fastest growing
sector in Rwanda last year.
Ms. Rosette Rugamba, the director general of the ORTPN
described 2007 as another successful year for tourism
and conservation in Rwanda. She was speaking on the
occasion to recognise 2007 milestones in Rwanda tourism
and conservation. The ceremony held at the ORTPN head
office in Kigali was attended by various stakeholders
in the tourism industry.
According to Rugamba, 39,000 tourists visited Rwanda
and spent $42.3million in 2007. The ORTPN figures
show a significant increase of tourists and revenues
compared to 2006 which registered 31,000 tourists,
bringing in $35.9million. Rugamba who has shown her
determination to promote Rwanda tourism world wide,
reiterated that tourism sector registered heavy investments
estimated at $78million. Local private investments
in tourism and hospitality facilities were estimated
at $42million marking an increase of 57% compared
to 2006.
Tourism and hospitality were boosted by the increased
number of hotel rooms from 1860 in 2006 to 2,391 in
2007 and the number of restaurants moved to 82 in
2007 compared to 75 in 2006. The high -end Rwanda
tourism target registered a number of business activities
aimed at placing it to another level.
Rugamba revealed that limited international flights
from Europe to Rwanda, lack of tourism standards,
limited accommodation in Nyungwe forest and few boats
in Lake Kivu characterised the industry in 2007.
Brussels Airlines this year introduced a third direct
flight into Rwanda from Europe.
Other developments included new hotels and tourism
training schools launch of bird watching, introduction
of master and visa cards and the gorilla naming ceremony
locally known as Kwita Izina. The ORTPN also allocated
Rwf211million ($383,636) to the community development
projects around the national parks. 22 research projects
in national parks were conducted.
For further information, please contact ORTPN office
at 576514/576515 or email info@rwandatourism.com
or visit our website on www.rwandatourism.com
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