Rwanda’s tourism stats for 2013 all record continued growth

TOURISM ARRIVALS IN RWANDA UP BY 6 PERCENT WHILE REVENUES RISE BY 4 PERCENT

(Posted 07th March 2014)

Figures released by the Rwanda Development Board’s Tourism and Conservation Department confirm the continued trend of sectoral growth in tourism, as arrival numbers in 2013 rose by 6 percent to 1.137.000 visitors while earnings in the sector rose by 4 percent to now 293.6 million US Dollars.

This makes tourism once again the leading economic sector ahead of agriculture, namely tea and coffee, with indications that 2014 will also show a growth again.

Rwanda is presently participating in the world’s largest tourism fair, ITB in Berlin / Germany where the country shares a stand with neighbours Uganda and Kenya. As one of the key aspects of this year’s promotion came the launch yesterday evening of the long awaited common tourist Visa for Rwanda, Uganda and Kenya.

Lower than usual sales forecasts though for gorilla permits have brought to the forefront some concerns if, like in neighbouring Uganda Rwanda too should introduce a low season rate, which in Uganda now stands at 350 US Dollars for foreign nonresident visitors to the prized gorillas while in comparison, Uganda now charges 600 US Dollars during the high season for a gorilla permit while Rwanda charges US Dollars 750 year round.

Watch this space for regular and breaking news items from across Eastern Africa.