Work on a first class hospitality facility in Kinigi, Musanze is set to be completed by the end of this year, according to a top official in the Rwanda Development Board (RDB).

The Mountain Gorillas Nest lodge put up by Istithmar World, a subsidiary of Dubai World Investments, will follow the completion of the five star Nyungwe Eco Forest Lodge, and other major projects owned by the same group.

In an interview with Business Times recently, Rica Rwigamba, the Head of Tourism and Conservation at Rwanda Development Board (RDB) said that Dubai World has committed to complete the project during the course of the year.

"We met recently and they had delayed to make changes in the hotels but this year they will be beginning and renovating some of the rooms,” Rwigamba said.

The official also pointed out that RDB is working on a marketing strategy with the company to promote the investments to tourists across the globe.  

"We are currently working with them to market more so that they can get more people going to the hotel. We will be going with them to trade fairs to market the lodge and the entire Nyungwe,” she said.

This follows a major announcement made by Dubai World earlier last year that it would scale down its investments in Rwanda, preferring to concentrate on the two projects despite an initial plan to invest up to $230 million (approximately Rwf130 billion) mainly in the hospitality industry announced almost three years ago.

The company intended to invest in eight tourism facilities, including luxury hotels, a residential golf course development, residential, high-end eco lodges, and the 1,080 square kilometres, Akagera National Park.

"In partnership with the Rwanda government, Dubai World will initiate a golf foundation, through which a percentage of golf course revenues will be allocated to the promotion of the game for local residents, especially the young, through a golf academy and other initiatives,” Dubai world announced in 2007.

However, the Middle East giant investment company attributed the change of investment plans to the effect of the global financial crisis.
 

Ends