The tourism industry continued to be Rwanda’s number one foreign exchange earner in the year 2013 as per September’s facts of the Rwanda Development Board (RDB).
The industry saw an increment in the number of vacationers by 14% last year as more than 544,000 tourists entered the nation contrasted with 487,000 during the same period in 2012.
Business guests proceed to represent the majority, with 227,574 guests contrasted with 198,589 by September 2012. This was as a consequence of the nation’s high ranking in the Doing Businesses report for 2013 that ranked Rwanda as the second easiest destination to do business in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Based on last year’s success, there is optimism that the nation’s tourism revenues might have exceeded $440 million by the year’s end, contrasted with $282 million in 2012. Tourism was likewise expected to contribute more than $340 million in foreign direct investment by the end of last year, a 10% increase from $317 million in 2012.
Rwanda’s main attraction has continued to be the mountain gorillas found in the Volcanoes National Park it shares with Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo, yet benefits the most from these rare and endangered animals (there are over 800 mountain gorillas) because of well arranged events, for example, the baby gorilla naming ceremony Kwita Izina, which occurred for the ninth time. 2013 ceremony saw the naming of 12 infant gorillas and has been named for the prestigious United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) award for innovation in public policy.
The event that was held under the theme ‘commending nature and empowering communities,’ has over the years pulled in renowned celebrities and conservationists, for example, actors Ramsey Noah and Isaiah Washington.
Ever since the inception of Kwita Izina, the gorilla populace in Rwanda has increased by 26%. 2013 saw the birth of 17 babies contrasted with 12 the previous.
“The nation’s great security and scenery have contributed to the improved ranking this year.”