Overview

Rwanda has four national parks (Volcanoes, Nyungwe, Akagera, and Gishwati-Mukura) and substantial natural assets, including six volcanoes, 23 lakes and numerous rivers, and rare species such as mountain gorillas.  Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, tourism was the leading foreign exchange earner for the country.  Rwanda has sought to establish itself as a regional and global hub for conferences and events.  Rwanda was scheduled to host the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting in 2020, but the event was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.  An increase in the number of major airline companies serving Rwanda has also contributed to the growth of Rwanda’s tourism sector.  Given advances in teleworking and low returns on business tourism, it is uncertain when Rwanda’s hospitality sector will recover to pre-pandemic levels, according to the IMF.  Throughout 2021, even as Rwanda has experienced waves of infections and experienced lockdowns, the government has prioritized keeping international tourism open.      

Leading Sub-Sectors

Hospitality and hotels
Transportation and tourist services
Tourist infrastructure

Opportunities

• Management and advertising for domestic and international meetings, conferences, and conventions
• Tourism and hospitality training schools
• Construction of cultural villages
• Creation of environmentally friendly recreation parks in Kigali
• Tourism and sports activities around Lake Kivu
• Eco-tourism in Rwanda’s national parks
• Development of exhibition centers in and around Kigali City

More resources and opportunities on tourism and travel are available from RDB, the Rwanda Convention Bureau, and the Rwanda Travel and Tourism Association.