During the 20th anniversary of the Liberation, the government unveiled part of what will be known as the Liberation Museum in a bid to keep the history of the struggle alive. Mulindi, which served as the military and administrative headquarters of the Rwanda Patriotic Front (RPF-Inkotanyi) as well as the National Assembly in Kigali, are two such places. But have tour operators fully embraced them? Do they consider them as part of their circuits? While the Rwanda Development Board (RDB) has come up with new attractive packages that are more geared to attract foreign tourists, the local market is conspicuously silent. It would be interesting to see how many Rwandans have visited the museum at the National Assembly or Kanombe. It would be a good guess that the number of those who have visited the gorillas is even lower, without forgetting Musanze caves or other places that keep our national heritage alive. The question we have to ask ourselves is, why? Developing the local tourism industry is vital; therefore, major sensitisation campaigns are needed to rope in this important segment. It is embarrassing when a foreigner knows more about a country’s geographical features than a national. This country has precious jewels but they are hidden from its people, and this is due to ignorance that can easily be dealt with if local leaders were brought on board. Not only would it bring more funds for their coffers, it would also help enlighten the population they lead.
