By Elie Mutangana, Kigali
The Rwanda Development Board (RDB) has unveiled figures informing that the country has generated $247 million from tourism in the first half of 2023.
According to the statement published on August 10, the revenues rose from $158 million recorded in the first half of 2022, to $247 million recorded in the same period of this year.
The growth represents a remarkable increase of 56 percent which is the highest growth recorded during the post-Covid Pandemic period.
For example, in the first half of 2022, the country recorded a rise of $171 million from $164 million that had been recorded in the first half of 2021.
National parks collectively attracted 109,800 tourists.
Particularly, Mountain Gorillas tourism continues to be the top attractive choice for visitors – generating itself $113 million to the overall revenues, and marking 6 percent increase compared to 2019.
Furthermore, the statement revealed that other visitors came for business purposes and investments in the country.
“This year we celebrate the gains made in our tourism and conservation efforts, notably, the majestic mountain gorillas,” said Claire Akamanzi, CEO of RDB.
According to her, over Rwf10 billion ($9 million) has been allocated in more than 1,000 community-based projects, aimed to share 10 percent of revenues with the communities around the tourist sites and parks, hence engaging them in conservation efforts.
She added that they are diversifying Rwanda’s tourism revenues by promoting other tourist attractions and new offerings such as Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Events.
Next month, Rwanda sets for an annual “Gorilla Naming Ceremony”. Around 23 baby gorillas born in the last 12 months will be given names.
The ceremony aim to conserve, value this majestic animals in order to categorize them as no longer critically endangered animals.
Since the beginning of the ceremony in 2005, it brought several conservationist in country and around 374 gorillas have been given names in the period
