The Covid-19 pandemic has devastated the travel and tourism sector across the world, with economies that heavily rely on the industry suffering the most. According to official figures, economies in the East African Community have lost up to 92 per cent of tourism revenue, with tourist arrivals dropping by a whopping 4.73 million. This has not only resulted in a significant fall in proceeds from the sector for Rwanda and the other five partner states, but it has also led to widespread job cuts and business failures. And the longer the Covid-related travel restrictions last the harder it will be for the sector to return to its pre-pandemic levels. However, economies have had to look inwards to help save the industry, with a particular emphasis on domestic tourism as local restrictions start to ease up. In the same way Covid-19 vaccine nationalism has taught us that you cannot rely on the goodwill of others to protect the lives of your citizens, so have we learnt that you cannot depend on foreign arrivals to grow your tourism sector. This makes the case for domestic tourism more compelling than ever. For a few years now, Rwanda has been promoting domestic tourism as a major, rolling out different pocket-friendly packages for nationals to visit various destinations across the country. This is part of a broader effort to take tourism to another level, with the sector emerging as a major contributor to the economy in the years leading up to the pandemic. Indeed, creativity and innovation will continue to be key as the country bids to revive the sector amid continued uncertainty surrounding international travel. The latest addition to the country’s tourism offerings is the launch, on Wednesday, of Rwanda’s first-of-its-kind hot air balloon experience at the Akagera National Park. The new product, announced by Royal Balloon Rwanda and Rwanda Development Board, includes two hot air balloons that can accommodate four-six people climbing to heights as high as 1000m above the safari park destination, home to the Big Five. To help promote domestic tourism, it is important that the new product is made affordable for Rwandan citizens and residents of Rwanda.
