The tourism industry in this part of the world has some rather interesting characteristics. For a long time this industry was seen and packaged in foreign eyes. The target audience was tourists from Europe and America while locals only a part of it as low level staff for hotels and as tour guides. The pricing was designed for the foreigners with many tourist facilities accepting credit cards long before your popular coffee shop in town had considered it.

Even things like the menu were not spared. In many places the menus looked so strange to the locals who often concentrated their eyes on the only part they felt they understood – the prices. But these too were a source of unrest for some as they were either unaffordable or quoted in foreign currency. Thankfully the tide has changed and the African is no longer seen merely as staff for the industry but another worthy customer to win over.

Domestic and regional tourism is now the fastest growing tourism market in the region. All around the region, perceptions are changing and many East Africans agree that they ought to consume the beauty they are blessed with, in the same way as Europeans and Americans have done for so many years. For Rwanda, the calling signals have been "Remarkable Rwanda” and "Tembera u Rwanda.”

This year in particular has seen the Rwanda Development Board’s Tourism and Conservation department going all out in rallying Rwandans to stop just talking about how beautiful this country is but also go out and see it and enjoy it as much as possible. Together with other partners in the industry, familiarisation tours to every corner of the country have been organised to get the word out there.

The fruits of these campaigns are yet to be fully seen but there is no denying the fact that there has been an awakening. For example we now have tour companies that focus almost entirely on serving the domestic tourist with pocket friendly packages designed around the life of a domestic tourist. One key aspect of domestic tourism for example is that there are really no peak/off peak seasons. For many all they need is money and time. This time is usually weekends, public holidays that make weekends longer or festive seasons like Easter and Christmas.

The festive season is another good opportunity for domestic tourism to flourish. Interestingly most domestic tourism that many of us are accustomed to is the almost mandatory trip to our village homes for Christmas. This is because for many workers this is when they can afford a short break and it is when the guilt of not checking on relatives back home peaks as well.

With time the festive season routine becomes more of a ritual and a boring one as well. Now is a good time to think of how to spice up things a bit to make this festive season memorable. If you ask me, I suggest you (plus family and friends) break the pattern and get out of town but not to the village this time. We are looking for experiences not a mere destination. Let the hotel help you planRecently while in the lakeside town of Rubavu I learnt that there is so much that one can for fun while there. The town has always had a reputation for being a fun place but when asked for specifics one may struggle to name just a few. To solve my troubles I challenged my friend Duncan Lewa, the manager at Lake Kivu Serena Resort to help me decide what I could do with my time while there. Duncan easily drew up an elaborate itinerary that I even failed to exhaust for the two days I was there.

I am telling you, these hotel people know their town quite well. Not only do they know the exciting activities to make your stay worthwhile, the service providers are simply a call away. You just mention something and they will thumb through their phone and hook you up. I have been in Rubavu before and embarked on the challenging but scenic Congo Nile Trail along Lake Kivu that separates the Congo basin from the Nile basin. Being a festive season one would most likely be out to have fun without breaking much of a sweat.

Listen out for the musicWhile in Rubavu you can be sure to find a live band playing at one of the hotels as guests enjoy the evening or even a club playing the latest songs without forgetting the melodies from neighbouring DRC. I enjoyed performances by Ijabo Band that performs live at Lake Kivu Serena Resort for their combined recent and classic Rwandan songs with a bit of Rhumba that had me out of my seat in a jiffy. On other nights you can catch a ballet group of Intore dancers. Boat ridesA boat ride sounds quite obvious when you are in the vicinity of such a large water body with pristine waters dotted with islands and even infrastructure like the methane gas plant. There are so many boat service providers from those affiliated to the hotel if it is by the lake side to independent ones. Doing the boat ride as the sun sets is pure bliss as you can see the sun literally painting the sky with magical colours while you take in the breeze.

And by the way you can also engage in the new attraction that is kayaking. The guys at Kingfisher Journeys offer the service using safe and modern equipment complete with water proof cameras for you to get memorable photos while out in the lake. They have very skilled guides that will make you feel comfortable. Hiking and bikingYou can move away from the water and take a leisurely hike around the town most probably towards what is known as Mount Rubavu from where you can get a great view of Goma town. More so, bike rides can be arranged so you can see the town on wheels but at a slower pace that our Tour du Rwanda cycling champions. Of course if you are super lazy then a car is also an option.

Head out to the different borders that lead to the Democratic Republic of Congo and take a selfie before going to the hot springs where the amiable guys there will give you a foot massage. 

Eating out and hotel hopping

One of the little known secrets of a resort town is how easy it is hop from one place for another looking for nothing in particular. Do you know how easy it is to sleep at one hotel, have lunch at another and go dancing at a different spot? You can get a more holistic feel of the town if you are the adventurous type. Rubavu is so full of life that you will be doing yourself a disservice by keeping in one place.

Jesus himself moved around a lot so do the same on foot, in a car, on a bike and of course in a boat. Oh and before I forget, did you know that it is possible to tag along with the fishermen in the night to see how they go around doing their thing? Try out sometime and tell me if you won’t like it. If Rubavu is not your kind of place then head out to the calmer Karongi or even to other Rwandan towns that are close to the lake for an almost similar experience.

Once you have done all this you will also be a more informed ambassador of your country and will probably be very ready to recommend the same for others living here or just visitors. editorial@newtimes.co.rw