The president of the Wildlife Conservation Society, Dr Cristián Samper, has hailed government efforts toward wildlife conservation and promotion of tourism in the country but stressed that sustainable tourism in the region would require regional combined efforts.

Samper made the remarks Tuesday as he concluded his five-day tour of some touristic areas in the country.Samper and his team toured both Nyungwe and National Volcanoes parks.

The emerging challenges in conservation require cross-border consultation and collaboration among regional countries to ensure endangered animals such as gorillas and others are not affected, according to the official.

The challenge, he said, could be more pressure and demand in tourism yet the region is not showing concerted efforts which could affect conservation.

Samper said he was impressed by the way the Rwandan government has promoted tourism, adding that the opportunity to visit the two parks had exposed them to just how much the tourism sector in the country offered.

"It is a good model other countries should emulate,” he said.

Security in Rwanda

Samper singled out security and safety that are prevalent in the country, which he said is important to promote tourism and hospitality.

"I am happy to say that what I have seen in tourism and hospitality and the management that I have experienced in the two places I have been to is some of the best I have seen anywhere in the world,” he said.

Samper commended conservation efforts of Nyungwe National Park, saying it plays a big role in the welfare of the people around.

He noted that efforts put in by the wildlife society are bearing fruit, adding that apart from conservation, importance is attached to Nyungwe because of the fact that it provides ecosystem like water and livelihoods for many.

More than 40 per cent of water used in the country is said to come from Nyungwe park.

"Nyungwe has important places with a lot of endangered species, it is part of heritage in Rwanda. Something that disappears here would disappear completely so there is need to conserve it,” he said.

Samper reaffirmed Wildlife Conservation Society’s commitment to supporting the park’s conservation.

He said, unlike in some other countries where tourism faces challenges such as smuggling and extreme poaching, Rwanda’s pressure on the wildlife is low despite some local challenges such as population growth, lack of proper infrastructure, and human resource.

For the Rwandan tourism to keep growing, he said, there is need to have good infrastructure and build capacity to manage the parks and other touristic attractions.

Wildlife Concervation Society started working with Rwanda in 1959 and has since been providing technical and financial support. It works in 60 countries across the world.

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