RDB Targets More MICE Revenue in 2018
With over 45 already confirmed conferences for 2018, Rwanda expects to earn an increased revenue from meetings, incentives, conferences and events in the year 2018. Since it’s launching in 2014, conference tourism has become Rwanda’s source of revenue drawing thousands of meetings and conference travelers from all parts of the world. The already confirmed conferences are to be held in April and May 2018 and these include African Agriculture Revolution Summit, (AGRIVIVE), the Mo Ibrahim Foundation Good Governance Meeting, Transform Africa Summit and Africa Investment Summit among others. HE Paul Kagame recognized the achievements of conference tourism to Rwanda during the state of the nations’ address early this year. Fortunately, Rwanda has earned a $404m in 2016 an increase from $200m in 2010. Conference tourism (MICE) is a new form of tourism in Rwanda, which target travelers coming in for meetings, incentives, conferences and Events from all parts of the world. Rwanda expects 10% increase in revenue earned from conference tourism based
on the progress achieved in the last years.
Last year (2017), Rwanda hosted over 169 international meetings, which attracted tens of thousands of travelers hence an indirect support for the service providers such as hotels, lodges, restaurants and Rwanda Air, which make it easy for travelers to connect to and from Rwanda. Interestingly, over $40m from $404m that was earned from conference tourism in Rwanda last year was invested in several developments in Rwanda’s economy hence increasing the country’s Gross domestic Product. The World travel awards last year ranked Rwanda as a leading conference destination hosting the highest number of conferences, meetings, incentives and events in the world.
With an increase in business travelers to the land of a thousand hills, the Rwanda Convention Bureau in cooperation with the Rwanda Development Board (RDB) expect improvement in the gross domestic product. Since 2014 when Rwanda hosted her first conference, the country has hosted thousands of regional and international guests form all parts of the globe. Interestingly, some travelers have opted to visit all other tourism spots in Rwanda such as national parks, local communities, volcanoes and cultural tours among others. According to RDB, leisure tourism is one of the most thought after tourism strategies in Rwanda but business tourism is potential of spending three times more than the former.
Besides conference tourism, the re introduction of big five game and crested cranes in Akagera national park is an achievement. In May 2017, Rwanda Development Board re-introduced 10 Eastern rhinos from South Africa after 10 years of non-existence shortly after the lions. The re-introduction of lions and rhinos in Akagera national park has made Rwanda a home for the Big Five game, which make the country a best place for game viewing. Similarly, RDB has re introduced over 130 grey crowned cranes from people’s homes where they had fled for several years. In September 2017, Rwanda Development Board brought back over 30 grey crested from homes all around Kigali. Swamp warbler and grey crowned cranes are among bird species that have been re-introduced to marshlands of Akagera National Park. Travelers are therefore assured of memorable bird watching experience while on Rwanda safari. Also LoRa networks, which cover kilometers of range consuming low power and with fit Internet services, make Akagera one of the first smart parks in Africa.
The double increase of gorilla permits from $750usd to 1500usd in 2017 was Rwanda’ step forward. Since then, Rwanda has seen an increase in revenue earning with 8.3% rise in the country’s Gross Domestic Product. In 2017, RDB has experienced an increase in the demand for gorilla permits from 6,079 to 6,583 permits. With expensive gorilla permits, Rwanda receives luxury tourists who bring in increased revenue for the government and local communities. Rwanda’s double increment of gorilla permit prices was at first looked at as “uninformed” decision by the government but the country and local communities have greatly benefited from gorilla tourism since then.
Regarding transport, RwandaAir’s new nine routes in Africa, Europe and Asia is a great achievement. The national carrier has opened new routes to Abidjan in Cote d’Ivoire, Harare (Zimbabwe) Lilongwe (Malawi), Cotonou (Benin), Khartoum (Sudan) and Bamako (Mali). Rwanda Air has also expanded its operations to European markets with flights to London, Brussels and Mumbai, hence an encouragement for increased tourist arrivals. 13% of Rwanda’s tourists arrive by air and they contribute roughly 57% of the overall tourism revenue in Rwanda.Also, the government of Rwanda has heavily invested in constructing roads to ease movements on Rwanda safaris to major tourism spots such as volcanoes national park for gorilla tours, Akagera national park for gam,e viewing and Nyungwe forest national park for chimpanzees and canopy walk among others.
The construction of high-end lodges providing luxury food and accommodation services to travelers is Rwanda’s achievement. The recent opened lodges in Rwanda include Bisate Lodge translates in Kinyarwanda as “pieces” located next to volcanoes national park a home to the highest population of mountain gorillas in the Virunga conservation area. Bisate’s classy architectural and interior design is in a shape of a royal palace spreading over 30-hectare plot that was previously farmland. The lodge has 12 high-end guest rooms 6 of which are twin bedded villas. Other luxury lodges in Rwanda include Amakoro lodge, Virunga lodge, Singita Kwitonda Lodge Ruzizi tented camp in Akagera national park and one & only resort in Nyungwe forest national park among others.
The issuing of Rwanda visas to all citizens with without any prior application is another strategy Rwanda has set to make it unique from other countries. Starting from 1st Jan 2017, all travelers are given visas on arrival, which is different from the prior situation where nationals of African countries and few others were getting visas upon arrival.
The Tembera u’ Rwanda campaign that was launched in September 2016 in Huye has promoted a great job in the promoting tourism in Rwanda. The major aim of the campaign is to promote the awareness of all Rwanda nationals about all the attractions in the country hence encouraging domestic tourism in the country. Through Tembere u’ Rwanda campaign, many travelers have traveled within their country embracing the travelling culture among Rwanda citizens.
The selection of Prince Harry as an African parks president early 2018 is a great achievement. Of recent, Akagera national park was included in the list of facilities of Prince Harry for his stewardship. In 2000, all African countries collaborated to form African parks, which manage various protected areas on behalf of the government and in collaboration with local communities. The African parks supported the return of lions in Akagera national park as a tale of hope, Courage, Challenges, survival, resilience and rebirth of not only the lions in the savannah parks of Akagera but also resonates with Rwanda’s story of survival over 2 decades since 1994 genocide against the Tutsi.
In conclusion therefore, take part in Rwanda’s conference tourism and enable the country to earn increased MICE revenue in 2018.
