The Rwanda Water Resources Board (RWB) has mandated that investors looking to profit from hot springs tourism resources throughout the country must now apply for permits. This is to ensure the safety of the local community and tourists who seek recreational activities from the hot water resources.

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The order follows accidents recorded at various times in hot springs in Rusizi District.

The hot springs water was scientifically proven to contain a lot of minerals that can heal various illnesses and complications like muscle disorders, and various skin diseases.

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"People were managing and making use of hot springs in terms of recreational activities and healing without permits from Rwanda Water Resources Board according to the 2018 water law. This led to accidents. Permits are mandatory to avoid accidents involving tourists and local community members in the hot springs,” Vital Munyandinda, the Water Permits Division Manager at the water resources board told The New Times.

He noted that the hot springs protection involves hygiene and sanitation, safety, and improved facilities for the tourists.

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"Rwanda Development Board and districts can direct investors to us so that we give them permits as long as they fulfill all requirements. The investors should have well-trained technicians to ensure the safety of hot springs tourists, and we can guide them on the training,” he said.

According to the guidelines, the investors seeking to make use of hot springs should write to the Rwanda Water Resources Board and send a copy to the district management.

The investors are also required to have a water permit use invoice, registration certificate, Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) certificate, and a map showing demarcation for their project.

"Those given permits should fence the area with hot springs, observe the level of heat in the hot springs water before allowing users, and ensure hygiene and sanitation of the water,” the guidelines say.

The guidelines also include monitoring demarcations and depth of hot springs to prevent drowning accidents.

The board ordered investors to have well-trained security, and rescue officers with the required equipment to ensure the security and safety of hot springs users.

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The water resources board and local government leaders are set to collaborate in ensuring the guidelines are implemented, Munyandinda said.

Vanishing hot springs reappear in Rusizi District

According to Munyandinda, hot springs that vanished in Rusizi District have reappeared.

ALSO READ: Geologists probe 'vanishing' of Rusizi hot spring

"The research has not established the exact cause of the disappearance, but we suspected earthquakes or detonators to extract stones which caused earth-shaking in the area,” he noted.

He said Rubavu and Rusizi districts are known to have popular hot springs and that research continues to explore other places.

The other popular hot spring is Nyamyumba located in Rubavu District which has attracted quite a number of local and international tourists.

The hot springs site currently has two main water sources being accessed separately; ordinary and VIP sections at Rwf1,000 and Rwf2,000 respectively.

According to Déogratias Nzabonimpa, Vice Mayor in Charge of Economic Development, Rubavu District is working with Rwanda Development Board (RDB) to look for investors to develop the area.

"There is an ongoing initiative to develop the hot springs in partnership with RDB. We’re expecting an investor who will establish a five-star hotel on the island and develop the hot springs into improved swimming pools. Meanwhile, two investors are interested, likely to oversee it very soon,” he told The New Times.

A hot spring is formed when hot water is produced by the emergence of geothermal heated groundwater that rises from the Earth’s crust.

In Kinyarwanda, hot springs are called Amashyuza, and they are among Rwanda’s tourism resources as they can attract thousands of tourists every week.