Local hotels are willing to have at least a 20 percent discount on hotel rooms for the East African Community (EAC) citizens as a way of mitigating the impact of the global financial crunch. The proposal will help the industry remain stable regardless of the current global crisis and also attract more regional clientele. According to the Director of Tourism in Rwanda Development Board (RDB), Emmanuel Werabe a dialogue between different hotel managers was held and participants showed a willingness to have the initiative implemented very soon. “They are willing to respond positively. But because it’s not a law yet, it will be a process depending on the negotiations,” said Werabe on a phone interview. RDB Tourism Office had earlier suggested that the proposal be implemented in three months and are waiting for the hotels response. Werabe said that in one week’s time his office will write a letter to hotels reminding them. Some of the hotels that were involved in the hotels include Kigali Serena, Alpha palace, La Pallise Nyandungu and Impala hotel. The proposal will first be applied in hotels around Kigali before being introduced to other hotels across the country. The same proposal was also introduced in the neighbouring countries like in Tanzania and Kenya where preferential rates are offered to EAC member in some hotels. The 20 percent discount is likely to drop to 50 percent in low season. Before, hotel room booking cost the same for all clients. Recently, United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) announced that the industry will recover and be stronger than ever in spite of the current global economic crisis hit. It expects international tourism to stay even or fall by up to 2 percent this year. It is said that RDB Tourism Office have not registered a fall in tourist arrivals but it’s expecting low tourist inflow from Europe and America.States of America . Ends
