BURUNDI’S NATIONAL TOURISM OFFICE LAUNCHES QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER
(Posted 09th August 2014)
The Burundi National Tourism Office yesterday launched the inaugural edition of what will become a quarterly news update from a country, where, inspite of its geographically small size, plenty of tourism opportunities exist in national parks, game and bird reserves and along the shores of Lake Tanganyika. It will be a regular feature here, whenever a new edition is published and I hope that it helps to promote travel to ‘Burundi, Heart of Africa’.
| Amahoro,
Welcome to our first newsletter of the National Tourism Office of Burundi. We are delighted to share with you our first newsletter which will be published every three months. Since the beginning of the year, the National Tourism Office has been restructured with a vision of attracting more tourists and visitors to our country. The task of improving on our image and positioning Burundi as a tourism destination is still in its early stages. We are very much confident that our comparative and competitive advantages including the potential our country has to offer, Burundi is coming back as a strong tourism destination. The Government of Burundi has taken measures aimed at developing tourism in Burundi from September 2011,when a National Strategy for Development of a Sustainable Tourism was approved as the road map for tourism in Burundi. Guided by the same strategy, vision and mission, the National Tourism Office is striving to work with other government agencies in charge of promoting Burundi and sustainable development. Protecting our nature assets from our protected areas to national parks to involving communities for tourism development the National Tourism Office is set to involve those stakeholders together. The private sector the backbone of the tourism industry is our strongest ally in our mission, from hoteliers, tour operators to the investor believing in the economic growth and development of Burundi in seeing tourism as one of the pillars of our economy. We are confident in the future of tourism and we look in the horizons with lot of enthusiasm. Our new website will take you through different windows with the key information you need to know about Burundi, highlight events and activities taking place in Burundi. Looking in the horizons we see Burundi as a tourism destination growing and bringing to the travel and tourism market new products and services. Our mission is to make this possible. We invite you then to read our Newsletter, which highlights some of the actions we have taken. Enjoy your summer and visit in Burundi!
Carmen Nibigira Director General ONT |
New National Tourism Office Website
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The National Tourism office developed a window on what Burundi as a tourism destination can offer through the new website www.burundi-tourism.com to facilitate visitors to access to accurate information they need on tourism in Burundi.
Travel tips, Tourist attractions, events calendar are some tabs of the website informing you the essential of enjoying your time and stay in Burundi.
Take time to read and share our second tourism and travel magazine ” Beautiful Burundi” which will give you a glimpse of what the country has to offer and will share with you testimonies and experiences of those who believe in the potential of Burundi. http://issuu.com/safari-communications/docs/beautiful_burundi_2014
Promoting Tourism at International level
ITB Berlin, the biggest travel and tourism fair in the world welcomed Burundi for the 4th times this year. Burundi won three awards; three times as the Best exhibitor in Africa, Best of the Best exhibitor and this year second place.
This took place after Burundi’ absence on the tourism scene for almost two decades. Burundi continues to look for new partners and in its role of promoting Burundi to new tourism markets.
This year for the first time Burundi was present at International Fair of Lyon in France and International Fair of Indaba, South Africa and will be present at the Swahili International Fair that to held in Tanzania in October.
Promoting domestic tourism
Movies in the Park
The national tourism office has undertaken a new strategy of promoting the country to local and foreign residents. A relevant example is that of Movies cast in the Park “Jardin Public” in collaboration with “Festival International du Cinema et de l’Audivisuel du Burundi” (Festicab). Residents of Bujumbura including visitors can enjoy their Friday evening watching movies and so start well their weekend and enjoying the green spaces around the city of Bujumbura.
Rally de l’IMBO
After 27 years of absence in Burundi, an exciting Rally, “Rally de l’Imbo”, gathering contestants from Rwanda, Tanzania and the Democratic Republic of the Congo took place in the mountains of Bujumbura towards Muramvya.
Prior to that, the National Tourism Office together with the Automobile Club of Burundi and the Tanganyika Motors Sport association had organized a slalom which drew a large audience in Bujumbura.
Bujumbura Fashion week
This summer is rich in events worth for entertaining residents and visitors, there is room for everyone’s taste. After FESTICAB in June, Burundi hosted an event “Bujumbura Fashion Week” for the first time in Burundi which gathered 18 artists and designers from Africa, Europe and USA to showcase their collection and talents as well as promote young local talents.
When Bujumbura vibrates with Jazz?.
The Burundi National Tourism Office together with Roca Golf Hotel and BRARUDI are committed to make Bujumbura the event Capital in East African Community (EAC) by organizing a monthly Jazz event. Bujumbura not only hosted jazz’ nights, but also art exhibition, celebrated Music day and all around the city different activities added sounds and colors to the beauty of the city.
The White Picnic on the shore of the Lake Tanganyika added another touch of family and leisure to the city of Bujumbura known for the spirit of fun!
Conservation and eco-tourism working together ? Dr Jane Goodall visit to Burrundi
In less than 6 months Dr Jane Goodall visited Burundi to raise awareness on the role of conservation and eco-tourism in Burundi. Through the project founded by Les Regions Des Pays de La Loire and the French Embassy, the reserve of Vyanda is protected where a population of over 100 chimpanzees are recorded.
The National Tourism Office in collaboration with the national environment and conservation institute in Burundi (INECN) supported with different partners such as UNDP and Wildlife Conservation Society, we are engaged in conservation and eco-tourism as way forward for socio-economic development in Burundi.
Upcoming Marathon ? Kenya and Burundi together for sport
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The Bujumbura Marathon inaugural edition scheduled for 30th August, 2014 will be a half marathon (21kms) under the theme: “I Run for Fraternity: I Love Bujumbura” . The Marathon will be used as a vehicle to promote cooperation for the development of the city and the people of Bujumbura.
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What to do this summer?
We invite all of you to visit our National Parks and reserves to discover the unmatched beauty of Kibira, Vyanda and Rusizi to name but a few. As for events, get ready for Happy People and Gospel music festivals all scheduled for August. The first weekend of September, Gitega the second city in Burundi will host the second Rally of Burundi this year, this is the capital of the culture where our sacred and royal drummers perform.
We are inviting you to visit on our calendar our website to see what to do and see in Burundi. Don’t forget to share news with us by becoming our ambassadors and share news on our new Facebook page. Let’s promote Burundi together by visiting our country and discovering the beauty of our Beautiful Burundi.
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