By Irene Gaitirira
Published March 18, 2019
The Travel and Tourism sector of Rwanda contributed US$1.4 Billion to the central African country’s economy.
The annual review of the economic impact and social importance of the travel and tourism sector by World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) shows that Rwanda recorded an increase of 13.8% growth rate over 2017.
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According to an article by Erik Grimaldi of worldtourismwire.com, the WTTC research which covers 185 countries shows that in 2018 Rwanda’s Travel and Tourism sector:
- Outpaced the global growth rate of 3.9%, the African growth rate of 5.6%
- Supported 410,000 jobs, or 13% of total employment
- Accounts for the equivalent of one in seven Rwandan Francs in the local economy (14.9%)
- Is strongly weighted towards international travel: 67% of Travel & Tourism spending came from international travelers and 33% from domestic travel
- Was equally balanced between business travelers (48% of spending) and leisure travellers (52% of spending).
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“Rwanda’s Travel & Tourism story is one of a remarkable transformation. Last year at our Global Summit in Buenos Aires, Rwanda was the recipient of our inaugural Global Leadership Award, for countries which have prioritised tourism development in a way which is sustainable, inclusive and transformative,” says Gloria Guevara Manzo, President and Chief Executive Officer of World Travel & Tourism Council. “Rwanda has made an extraordinary transformation and tourism has been at the heart of that transformation. Rebuilt on a strong foundation of reconciliation, and powered by the determination to succeed, Rwanda is now a leader in education and in environmental responsibility. National parks have been created so that communities can benefit from conservation and
anti-poaching initiatives have protected the country’s unique gorilla population.”
