Rwanda now has 21,232 hotel rooms, an increase from 17,078 rooms in 2020, according to the 2024 Statistical Year Book released last week by the National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda (NISR). The number of hotels increased from 870, in 2020, to 1,189 currently, implying that the country has 4,154 new hotel rooms in 319 new hotels. There were 3,282 hotel rooms in 2008, an increase from 651 rooms in 2003. Bugesera, Gasabo, Gatsibo, Huye, Gicumbi, Karongi, Kicukiro, Kirehe, Muhanga, Musanze, Ngoma, Nyagatare, Nyamasheke, Nyarugenge, Rubavu, Rusizi, and Rwamagana are the top districts with the largest number of hotel rooms, according to the latest report. ALSO READ: Rwanda tourism revenue more than doubled to $445m in 2022 The report shows that Bugesera District currently has 972 rooms, up from 389 rooms in 2020. Although Gasabo District has 4,140 rooms, the largest number, they decreased from 4,851 rooms in 2020. Gatsibo has 209 hotel rooms, up from 120 in 2020. Gicumbi has 294 rooms, up from 185 in 2020. ALSO READ: Visiting Rwanda? Here are ten things you should know Huye has 852 rooms, up from 738, Karongi has 807 rooms, up from 644, and Kicukiro has 1,751 rooms, up from 1,299 in 2020. Rooms in Kirehe District increased from 51 to 301 rooms, while for Muhanga District the number of hotels' rooms has grown from 371 to 530. The number of hotel rooms in Musanze District increased from 1,331 to 2,003. Ngoma District recorded a rise in accommodation rooms from 205 to 502. The number of rooms in Nyagatare increased to 552, up from 244. Nyamasheke currently has 224 rooms, having increased from 155 in 2020. Hotel rooms in Nyarugenge District increased from 2,996 to 3,152 rooms. ALSO READ: Ten events that shaped MICE industry in 2023 Rubavu has 1,703 rooms, up from 1,210 in 2020, while hotel rooms in Rusizi increased from 717 to 1,042. Rwamagana has 491 hotel rooms, up from 348 in 2020. The districts with the smallest number of hotel rooms include Nyabihu (30 rooms), Gisagara (29 rooms), Burera (42 rooms), Gakenke (43 rooms), Ngororero (60 rooms), Ruhango (70 rooms), and Rulindo (65 rooms). Target for next five years In September 2024, the Rwanda Chamber of Tourism, the apex body for all private-sector tourism establishments in Rwanda, announced a target to have 35,000 hotel rooms in the next five years, an increase from 10,000 rooms over the past five years. ALSO READ: Visitors to Rwanda now spending more The number of private-sector tourism establishments in Rwanda increased from 450 to 1,360 over the past five years. The sector currently employs 165,000 people nationwide. As the number of visitors to Rwanda increases, investments in hotel rooms are also expected to rise, according to the Private Sector Federation (PSF). Rwanda recorded 1.4 million visitors in 2023, a number expected to double by 2029. The number of visitors to national parks increased from 36,019 in 2020 to 135,869 in 2023, according to NISR. The report shows that 30% of visitors went to Volcanoes National Park, 55% visited Akagera National Park, and 15% visited Nyungwe National Park, with 65% of visitors being foreigners. Travelers who visited Rwanda from various parts of the world spent $267.71 million on goods and services in the first half of 2024, a new survey by NISR shows.
