After years of playing host to tourists visiting their areas, it was the turn for communities living around the Volcanoes National Park to also engage in tourism when the Rwanda Development Board (RDB) accorded them a tour of Kigali City.

A group of 196 people from the 4 districts in the Northern Province bordering the park were accorded the tour as a good gesture for being ‘good neighbours’ to the park.

The group, majority coming to Kigali for the first time, got a fitting Christmas gift by visiting RDB Premises at Gishushu, Gacuriro and Nyarutarama upscale residential areas to witness the progress the country has made.

They also visited Kigali Genocide Memorial Centre at Gisozi. 
The group hailed the progress of the country and noted the need to consolidate what has been achieved adding that "they know the person behind all this and come 2010, they reward back his efforts.”

Group members also recounted how their lives have changed, from grass thatched houses to iron roofed houses with electricity, thanks to different government initiatives.

In her address to the group, Chantal Rugamaba, the RDB Deputy CEO commended their commitment to collaborate in park conservation.

The group also visited Amahoro National Stadium, Kigali International Airport and Kigali City Roundabouts before they parted back home.

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