Rwanda a country of attraction and tourist destination in Africa - Africa Story by Michael Dordzavu

 

      Kigali Convention Centre, Rwanda

Rwanda, a landlocked country in East Africa, is known for its stunning landscapes, popularly known by many as the "Land of a Thousand Hills."  Rwanda is a country known for her rich culture diversity and nature of people in the country.

                      A Hill in Rwanda

Rwanda as a country is bordered by Uganda to the North, Tanzania to the East, Burundi to the South, and the Democratic Republic of Congo to its East.

Rwanda currently has a population of over 14 million people living in the country. Rwanda’s capital city is Kigali and is also the cleanest City in the whole of Africa, a feat worth celebrating as a country.

           A section of Rwandan

The official languages spoken in Rwanda are Kinyarwanda, French, and English. Rwandan culture is rich in music, dance, and storytelling, with traditional ceremonies like Umuganda (community service) fostering unity among the people

Rwanda was known for her infamous 1994 genocide, during which an estimated number of 800,000 Tutsi and Hutu were killed in just a space of 100 days. This history has also helped in shaping the history of the country and their social dynamics. Beyond the genocide, the people of Rwanda have seen a lot of significant strides under the leadership of their president, Paul Kagame.

 The backbone of the Rwanda economy is the areas of agriculture and the tourism sectors. The economy of Rwanda is primarily agrarian, with tea, mat, spices and coffee being their most significant exports. According to Contrade, Rwanda made $202.57 million in the export of these products in the year 2022.

The tourism sector cannot be over-looked when it comes the economy of Rwanda as well. The tourism sector was intentionally developed to generate revenue for the country. The country developed its national parks such as Volcanoes National Park, home to mountain gorillas. Virunga National Park, Akagera National Park among others.

      Volcano National Park in Rwanda

      Akagera National Park in Rwanda

Rwanda's tourism revenue rose by 36 percent from $445 million in 2022 to reach $620 million in 2023, as stated in the 2023 Rwanda Development Board (RDB) annual report.

Rwanda had a development plan “Vision 2020”, a strategy aimed at transforming the country into a middle-income nation by promoting technology, innovation and sustainable development. The country is now looking at becoming a high-income country (HIC). They went ahead in implementing the National Research and Innovation Fund Framework Policy. This clearly shows how serious a country Rwanda is.

       A design of an innovative plan.

 The country has also made impressive advancements in healthcare, particularly in reducing child mortality and improving access to medical services.

    Rwandan military hospital

                   An edifice in the heart of Kigali
Rwanda is committed to environmental conservation, evidenced by initiatives to protect wildlife and natural resources. This also has led to them having Kigali, the capital of the country as the cleanest city in Africa.

Rwanda's journey from tragedy to recovery is often cited as a remarkable example of resilience and nation-building.

 

In the areas of events and conferences, Kigali has become a hub for conferences and events, attracting international visitors for business tourism. The Rwanda Convention Bureau promotes the country as a destination for meetings and events.

            Kigali Conference Bureau

The Rwanda Convention Bureau (RCB) has reported that the Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions (MICE) sector generated more than $95 million (RWF 121.5 billion) in revenue in 2023, marking a 48 percent growth compared to 2022.

      Kigali Convention Centre, Rwanda

Some sections of the building's interior.

       The auditorium
The auditorium is designed to reflect the King's Palace, this multifunctional facility accommodates a variety of events, ranging from summits with 100 participants to concerts with participants over 2,500.

     The meeting hall at the centre.

The Kigali Convention Centre has seven large meeting halls that can accommodate up to 2000 delegates.

There's also a pre-functioned area with movable partitioned walls for ultimate flexibility. The space is suitable for sports events, exhibitions, coffee breaks, receptions, lunches, dinners and banquets.

A wide variety of gastronomical facilities are offered to the guests such as Auditorium club, the exquisite Business glass Lounge, Piazza bar and Filini restaurant, a passionately Italian restaurant that unique mix of sophistication and causal design.

 

 The convention centre is located on Highway KN5, adjacent to the KG2 Roundabout, about 6 kilometres West. This is about 7 kilometres East of the Kigali in a neighbourhood called Nyabugogo.

Gorilla Trekking is another beautiful tourist attraction in Rwanda.

     Tourists and Gorilla in Rwanda

Gorilla trekking is a premium experience in Rwanda, with permits being a significant source of revenue. The cost of a permit can be high, but the experience is considered unique and transformative.

             Some Gorillas in Rwanda

As of 2024 in Rwanda, the cost of a single gorilla permit, known in full as a mountain gorilla tracking permit in Rwanda is US$1,500 for visitors from outside Africa. This price is discounted to US$200 for citizens of Rwanda and other East African countries.

                  A tourist permit in Rwanda
         

Rwanda’s tourism industry is characterized by its commitment to conservation, cultural heritage, and community involvement, making it a unique and attractive destination.

     The national flag of Rwanda

Rwanda as a country have come this far and has seen massive and significant achievements in their developments. 

All these can be attributed but to only one factor, and that factor is leadership. The leadership of the country know what to do to make the lives of the citizens better and growth in every sector of the economy.

Rwanda is still developing, despite the great strides that they have achieved thus far. Long live Rwanda.

Source: 87soltions.blogspot.com

Credit: 87solutions.blogspot.com