Rwanda scores yet another first

Editor, I was delighted to read Edmund Kagire’s lead story in yesterday’s edition of The New Times titled “Rwanda recognised as top tourist destination.” The New Rwanda has scored yet another “first” in tourism, by emerging as the first country in East, Central and North Africa to become a member of the highly prestigious International Council of Tourism Partners (ICTP). The country has in the past, won many accolades and top tourism awards at the international arena. As Juergen T. Steinmetz, Chairman, ICTP has rightly put it, Rwanda is one of the few countries in Africa that maintains a green development agenda observing that that this great nation follows the ‘’sustainable and responsible tourism path.’’ Rwanda’s tourism sector has maintained healthy growth year on year due to the combined efforts of the Rwanda Development Board (RDB) and the Tourism Chamber of the Private Sector Federation. RDB constantly innovates to make this sector as attractive as possible. The Kigali Convention Centre, now under construction, will give Rwanda’s MICE tourism sub-sector a boost once ready and contribute towards making the country the regional conference hub. Rwanda’s pro-active approach towards the implementation of the single visa for the EAC region endorses the seriousness with which tourism is viewed in the country. The current on-line visa application facility and the very prompt responses an applicant receives from the Immigration Department reflect the high levels of customer service offered to potential visitors. I wish John Gara, the RDB chief executive, Rica Rwigamba, the head of Tourism and Conservation at RDB and Edwin Sabuhoro, Chairman, Tourism Chamber, PSF continued success in their noble initiatives of making Rwanda one of the most sought after tourist destinations. Clarence FernandesChairman, Rwanda Renaissance andCo-Chairman, Travel & Tourism CommitteeIndian Merchants’ Chamber clavinmarketing@gmail.com

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Rwanda scores yet another first