Despite the countries success in the tourism sector for the past years, new tourism investors are yet to be attracted to Rwanda after the host of the Africa hotel investment forum in 2016. The government of Rwanda through the Rwanda Development Board (RDB) said that the African hotel investment forum will unite international hotel investors in Africa, tour operators, government officials and other tourism industry experts.
The forum scheduled for 2016 will take place in Kigali Rwanda’s capital with an emphasize on hotel investment and operation in Africa. The Rwanda chief tourism officer at Rwanda development board Mr Yamina Karitanyi said that “We see Africa Hotel International Forum as an exceptional platform to meet many of the most important decision makers and investors, who have the power collectively to influence investment in the hospitality industry in Africa. And also said that they are determined to build a strong relationship and showcase Rwanda as the best place to do business creating chance for local hotel developers to forge partnerships with investors.
There are many tourism adventures to attract travelers in Rwanda such as the mountain gorilla tracking, Chimpanzee/primate treks, bird safaris, wildlife excursions in the forefront in Akagera National park and tours to the genocide memorial sites where memories of the famous human genocide in Africa visible at the various museums for visitors to pick a leaf for the future.
However looking at the beautiful tourism industry of Africa-the sector is accountable for 8.1% GDP and expected to rise to 4.9% every year by 2025 as stated by World tourism and Travel sector. Equally the Rwanda tourism sector continues to grow positioning itself as the leading foreign earner for the country evidenced by the 3% increase in the number of foreign tourist from 2013-14 in Rwanda. These numbers grew from 1.14 million visitors to 1.2 million visitors also accounting for an increase in revenue from $293.4m in 2013 to $303m in 2014.
Above all some hotel projects started as a result of the Africa Hotel International Forum and others are yet to come seeking new opportunities in Africa. Though finding public sector partners who speak the same language as the inventors is a must in order to have a smooth running of new hotel tourism investments in Rwanda.
