“Pays des mille collines” meaning the “Land of a thousand hills” due to the hilly topography of the region. Rwanda has become the pioneer of Google mapping in the whole of Africa. The striking strategy was adopted to fasten the search for all tourism facilities and attractions throughout the country. The good news was reported by the leader of tourism and conservation at RDB Rica Rwigamba immediately after the board signed the contract with Google. The agreement will help promote and market Rwanda’s tourist attractions as they will be identified online from wherever one may be. This marketing strategy is believed to boast the tourism industry since it Rwanda’s major source of foreign currency. In this matter, Google will have to identify attractive places like all the national parks in the country for example Volcanoes National Park, the forests like the Nyungwe forest, the Congo Nile trail, important Islands among others. Google mapping is expected to increase on the number of tourist inflow in the country. Internet marketing is preferred particularly because today is the fastest mode of communication therefore the best method to use.
Google mapping has also been introduced in Rwanda to help improve on the tours and travel business in Rwanda, they wish to see the business more accessible and more comfortable for the tourists so said Rwigamba. The tourism resources in Rwanda are very unique and extremely breathe-taking to all kinds of tourists such as wildlife, lakes and rivers, forests, swamps to mention but a few. The tourist activities associated with these resources are Mountain Gorilla Trekking, Boat rides, Wildlife viewing, Birding, Canopy walks, cultural tours among others. There are about forty mappers, GUS professionals, students as well as tour operators who will be involved in the exercise. They are using the standard Google Maps application which provides the opportunity of viewing the maps, route planners and service locators.
