Rwanda and especially the Rwanda Development Board’s Tourism Department are actively working to grow the country’s tourism sector in a sustainable way and the efforts are succeeding and being recognized by the World Economic Forum’s Tourism Competitiveness Index. International tourist arrivals and receipts are increasing along with international air access, new and upgraded parks and trails.

HIGHLIGHTS

• World Economic Forum’s Tourism Competitiveness Rankings for Rwanda:
  • #1 on Sustainability of T&T Industry Development
  • #2 on ease of hiring labor
  • #3 on time to start a business
  • #4 on attitude of population toward foreign visitors
  • #5 on CO2 emissions
  • #8 on Environmental Sustainability

And, notably…

• Second safest country on terrorism risk
• Sixth safest country on business costs of crime and violence

• WEF Rankings – Rwanda is one of the world’s Safest, most Tourist-friendly, most Environment-friendly, and most Business-friendly countries! Not every WEF ranking was as high. There are categories in which Rwanda ranked lower, i.e. 120th on ICT and 112th on education and training, so there is certainly additional work to be done, which seems to be recognized by the RDB. To see a summary of the Rwanda results: {filelink=3}
• Rwanda received almost 600,000 international visitors from January-August 2011 – 28% increase over same period in 2010. These visitors spent more than US$165 mn, an increase of 33%.
• Visitors from Europe and the Americas increased by 33% and 27% respectively.
  • Increases from the UK (40%), Germany (48%), Belgium (18%), The Netherlands (10%), France (21%) and Italy (40%)!
  • Visitors from Australia increased 57%! Click here for more results.

• Other highlights
  • Parc de Volcanoes Gorilla tracking continues to be a top attraction for visitors.
  • Launch of the Congo to Nile Trail
  • Nyungwe National Park prepares for visitors
    • Only canopy walk in East Africa.
    • World class bird watching and chimp tracking
    • World class eco-lodge – Nyungwe Forest Lodge
• Gishwati Forest, a biodiversity reserve, to become new destination, possibly a national park.
• RwandaAir expands service with addition of two Boeing 737-800NG, the first in Africa.
• Turkish Airlines to begin service to Rwanda in 2012 as part of expansion into Africa.
• British bookings for Rwanda via TripAdvisor expand 600%!

Rwanda will be exhibiting at the World Travel Market in London, November 7th-10th. If you are planning to attend, stop by the stand in the North Hall of the Excel Center at AF440.

For more details during WTM, please contact Philibert Ndandali, Senior Promotion Officer, Rwanda Development Board (contact details above) or Scott Wayne, Advisor, tel +1-202-236-9394, email: scottwayne@gmail.com. Mrs. Rica Rwigamba, Head of Tourism and Conservation, Rwanda Development Board, will be available for meetings and interviews during WTM.