 Tourism |
Overcast by insecurity the hang over the Great
Lakes Region, Rwanda's tourism is attempting a
come back. Tourism promoters have an uphill task
to attract visitors to this beautiful country
with many natural attractions.
"There is no doubt that some people still
think Rwanda is a relatively unsafe destination.
It is a priority for the tourism office to try
and change that perception." Says Solange
Katarebe former Director for Rwanda Tourism Promotion
Office (ORTPN).
The genocide that occurred in Rwanda left a completely
negative image on the country. The international
image held on Rwanda is that of a country in a
region of turmoil and worst of all a country where
senseless killings occurred.
But on reality Rwanda is perhaps one of the most
secure destinations in the Great Lakes region.
Records indicate that the number of visitors to
Rwanda peaked 1989 when over 23,000 people visited
the volcano National Park in the North-West of
the country, the Akagera National Park to the
East and the Nyungwe Forest Natural Reserve in
South West of the country.
The numbers drastically drop during the civil war
that started in 1990, and hitting all time low in
1994 when only 61 tourists visited the country,
before recovering to 5, 965 tourists in the year
2001. Statistics in the first quarter of 2002 indicate
marked improvement in numbers of people visiting
the country. |
Office Rwandais du Tourisme
et des Parcs nationaux (ORTPN) an autonomous body
instituted by the Rwandan Government has had a widespread
campaign of promoting the sector and putting in
place all the necessary structures. Besides this,
Rwanda has a couple of natural wonders, which also
make the country a popular tourist destination.
The mountain ringed inland lake of Kivu, the immense
Nyungwe forest with its chimpanzees, monkeys and
rare birds; the Savannah grasslands of Akagera with
tropical wildlife and of course the beautiful undulating
mountainous landscape of Rwanda. Nyungwe forest
reserve has unique history of being the oldest surviving
mountain forest in the world.
The government has encouraged tertiary institutions
to introduce courses related to Tourism promotion.
A major restructuring program is already underway
and Rwanda has embarked on a campaign of marketing
her name as a viable tourist destination.
Rwanda is simply a photographic paradise. The
country has a variety of landscape. The play of
the light of the valleys and peaks combines with
the skyline to produce captivating moods.
With the recently signed peace treaty between Congo
and Rwanda, all hope is that the crisis in the region
comes to an end. This will mark a new chapter of
building a new positive image for the country. |
