Rwanda's conference tourism comes of age

“Rwanda is no longer the present, it’s the future.” This is a new mantra that is slowly gaining currency in local tourism circles, and the upcoming African Union (AU) Summit that starts today is a good testament. If there is any further testament to the above opening mantra, it is to be seen in the venue for the eight-day meet – the Kigali Convention Center. The tourism sector, a key component of the country’s Vision 2020 has outdone itself by emerging as the country’s top foreign exchange cash cow, further distinguishing itself as one of the country’s largest employers. That Rwanda is lately asserting itself as the destination of choice for international conferences and events goes without saying. 2014, a turning point: Two years ago, the Rwanda Development Board (RDB) unveiled the ambitious Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions (MICE) strategy and the Rwanda Convention Bureau (RCB) to boost the country’s tourism sector and the dividends so far are there for all to see. The Rwanda Convention Bureau is a strategic business unit of Rwanda Development Board’s Tourism and Conservation Department. The bureau is expressly charged with fronting the country as a top destination to international events organizers. It is a one-stop center for any assistance, information and neutral advice on hosting and organizing MICE / business events in Rwanda. The Rwanda Convention Bureau is actually Africa’s latest International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) Member. At RCB, event organizers are furnished with information on Event bid preparation and presentation, and how to engage with government and the private sector specialists in supporting the event. The bureau also advises on sourcing of suitable venues, accommodation, and hospitality service providers, besides hosting and co-ordination of site inspection visits. The wider vision here is that having more business tourists in the country not only promotes tourism as a top income earner for the country, but also there is the ripple-down effect in terms of more jobs created for hospitality and tourism industry professionals. Already, the steady entry of new and large international hospitality brands like Marriot, Golden Tulip, Radisson Blu, Sheraton and Protea hotels is a pointer in this direction. In January this year, Rwanda hosted the 4th edition of the African Nations Championship (CHAN), the biggest international sports fete to grace Rwandan soil to date. The DRC may have taken the coveted trophy, but Rwanda retained the pride –pride in having successfully pulled off an incident-free tournament that left visiting foreign teams in awe at “how things are done in Rwanda”. Going back a little, the country hosted an international high-level event, the Transform Africa Summit in October 2013: The summit was attended by over 1,500 delegates and seven African Heads of State, including among others the presidents of Uganda, Kenya, Gabon, and Burkina Faso. Other delegates included Ministers and CEO’s of blue chip companies. Co-hosted by President Paul Kagame and Dr. Hamadoun Toure, the Secretary General of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the conference sought to pool together International participants to set a new agenda for Africa to leapfrog development challenges through the use and uptake of Broadband and related services. Earlier in 2007, the country had taken its first leap of faith, mobilizing the continent and the world with the ‘Connect Africa Summit’ held in Kigali that same year. Today, the concept has been replicated in Asia, which has its own Connect Asia summit, and Connect America. Among others, the summit focused on increasing and improving content affordability in a bid to move Africa to a content-generating continent rather than one that just consumes. At Transform Africa, good governance was identified as a great catalyst for development, while ICTs were classified as an enabler. Looking back with the benefit of hindsight, the theme of the summit; “The Future Delivered Today” was simply on point, if not prophetic. Dr. Hamadoun Toure, the Secretary General of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) applauded the summit saying at the time that “this encapsulates the tremendous spirit of optimism and confidence which I see right across this great continent of ours.” Other key events the country has hosted recently: Aviation Stakeholders Convention, May 7 – 9, 2016 Every year, the African Airlines Association (AFRAA) organizes the Aviation Stakeholders Convention to spotlight the development of the aviation industry in Africa. RwandAir, the country’s national carrier succesfully host this year’s convention in partnership with AFRAA. Over 400 representatives from major aviation organizations, including African airlines, civil aviation authorities, airports, and aircraft/engine manufacturers attended the event that was held at the Kigali Serena Hotel. World Economic Forum on Africa, May 11 – 13, 2016 This was the biggest global event the country put together this year, with over 3,000 high profile delegates, influential political leaders and captains of industry delegates mulling over the continent’s development trajectory. The event will be held at the Kigali Conference and Exhibition Center. 7th Africa Agriculture Science Week, June 13 – 19, 2016 Every three years, the Forum for Agriculture Research in Africa (FARA) organizes the Africa Agriculture Science Week (AASW), which spotlights the importance of science and technology in the agricultural industry. This year, the Government of Rwanda partnered with with FARA to host event, which brought together about 1,500 stakeholders in African agricultural science, technology, and innovation. It too was staged at the Kigali Conference and Exhibition Center. African Union Summit, July 2016 Some 2,000 delegates from across Africa will be expected in Kigali to attend the event, the first event that the Kigali Convention Center plays host to. For the first time, African presidents attending the summit will use African passports, which were introduced by the African Union to promote solidarity and unrestricted movement across the continent. Global Africa Investment Summit, September 5 – 6, 2016 At least 2,000 delegates, including entrepreneurs, company representatives, and investors, will come together to discuss the advancement of regional trade and investment in Africa. The summit will provide a platform for African governments and business leaders to present projects to regional and international investors. It will be organized by the Government of Rwanda in partnership with the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) and will be the second major event to be held at the Kigali Convention Center. Africa Hotel Investment Forum, October 4 – 5, 2016 And what better way to wrap up the year than with a conference for hoteliers and hotel investors, now that the country’s priority is to grow the MICE tourism segment of the foreign exchange pie? At least 700 delegates, including hotel investors, government officials, business people, and hotel operators are expected at the event to be held at the Radisson Blu Hotel and the Kigali Convention Center. editorial@newtimes.co.rw

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Rwanda's conference tourism comes of age