With an outstanding business plan, Wilson Travel Tours Agency, a local firm that promotes community tourism, has won the 2014 Spark Business Plan Award and a Rwf800,000 cash prize.

Wilson Habimana, the proprietor of the firm, said money will be used to strengthen the company’s marketing initiatives.

The competition was organised by Rwanda Tourism University College and Spark, a rural capacity building and development organisation to support local entrepreneurs with potential for long-term job creation projects.

According to the organisers, Wilson Travel Tours won the award in recognition of its innovative approach where communities are sensitised about the benefits of tourism, and how they can start community tourism ventures to serve the industry and improve their living standards.

The other winners include Robert Kayihura, Jean Pierre Mugwaneza, Jean Claude Nduwayezu, who also walked away with Rwa800,000 cash prize each.

This was the second edition of the awards, and was held at Rwanda Tourism University College on Septenber 23.

The awards also aim at encouraging businesses that leverage the potential of Rwanda’s tourism sector create jobs for rural communities, as well as develop sustainable enterprises.

Wilson Travel Tours is currently receiving leadership, finance and marketing mentorship under a business accelerator programme by Educat, a Kigali-based entrepreneurship training non-governmental organisation.