Category: Tourism

{{To many in Rwanda a hotel might not strike them as a home away from home. Its prudent to observe a proper hotel etiquette always during your stay at the hotel. Here is a list of the top 10 things not to do when checking in to a hotel.

From treating the staff correctly to keeping your cool, you’ll be sure to have an even more enjoyable escape by using this checklist.}}

1. Don’t yell at the staff. Ever.

2. Don’t tell anyone your room number. (A desk agent should point to your room number, and not announce it to the world.)

3. Don’t get bent out of shape when the night desk agent asks to see your “new friend’s” identification. Additionally, do not let a hotel employee into your room if they do not have an I.D.

4. Don’t blame hotel staff for stealing your stuff. My personal experience is that the guests eventually find 99% of the items that guests report stolen from their rooms. However, it is your right to ask the manager to call the police to file a police report.

5. Don’t order from room service if you notice the pages are dirty and torn.

6. Don’t use the bathroom washcloths to take off your makeup or shine your shoes.

7. Don’t throw anything in the room garbage if you don’t want the hotel staff to know about it.

8. Don’t abuse the privilege of late checkout. If you really need one past 1:00 p.m., ask for the manager.

9. Don’t leave your luggage unattended in a hotel lobby – even for a second.

10. Don’t be embarrassed! Call the hotel after you’ve checked out, and they will send your forgotten stuff. Just like they would send your baby blanket back to you.

{{Last week birding tour guides were awarded certificates after three weeks of training at Kitabi College of conservation and environment management at Nyungwe.}}

The event took place at Serena hotel. According to the chairman Tourism Chamber Edwin Sabuhoro, the three weeks study were aimed at training tour guides gain capacity on meeting and interacting with birds.

“Some of them see the birds, know them and hear them but did not have extra knowledge about them. The main essence was to train them to get more experience and represent the country’s purity in cultural tourism to increase revenue”, he said.

“Where there is tourism there is guiding”, said Manzi Kayihura chairman Rwanda Tour and Travel Association under tourism chamber.

“Guides had to get more knowledge on how to manage the needs of clients to have standards in every aspect of tourism; birding is very important in the tourist target market and requires high capital to improve the quality.

There are tourist organisations around Nyungwe which creates a high experience and it requires high capital to improve the quality,” said Manzi.

One of the students and a tour guide Noura shabamungu said, “it was enjoyable learning more on birds though it required more material.

This is going to increase the number of tourists who have been going to neighbouring countries. We have acquired general knowledge about Rwanda and customer care reactions,” he said.

{{The Rwanda Development Board in partnership with Google, commence a mapping exercise with the objective of increasing access to information and visibility of Rwanda’s tourism attractions on the web.}}

This event dubbed Rwanda Tourism MapUp from March 23rd to 24th 2012, started with team’s road trip from Kigali where key touristic features were mapped and continued to Musanze and Rubavu whose attractions were also added to the Google map list.

The Head of Tourism and Conservation at RDB, Rica Rwigamba said that Rwanda is proud to be the first African country to work with Google.

“Citizen mappers and tourism operators to systematically map all tourism facilities and attractions to increase discoverability through search engines.
Today, more than ever, more tourism destinations are chosen through online searches and recommendations by other travelers,” she said.

The Rwanda MapUp brought together 40 participants including professional mappers, GIS experts, university students as well as tourism operators to map all the major tourism features in Rwanda.

As stressed by the Sustainable Tourism Development Master Plan for Rwanda, the internet is now firmly established as the most important means of communication in the global travel industry.

Estimations state that around 70% of travel decisions are made using websites to research information and Google Maps is identified as the major one.

This exercise will be held regularly so as to preserve the accuracy of the maps.

{{Rwanda’s private sector and those involved in tourism industry have raised concerns over the hike in gorilla permits pricing likely to affect their business.}}

Rwanda Development Board recently confirmed plans to implement changes to current gorilla permit pricing.

The prices have been increased by 50% and this will take effect from June 1st, 2012 save for prior bookings made before this date.

The increase will see foreign non-residents pay $750 as opposed to the current $500 to visit the gorillas; foreigners residing in Rwanda will pay$375 instead of $250, Rwanda nationals $50 up from $33 respectively.

Reports put across by the private sectors say changes will have lasting repercussions on their industry and the image of the country.

The mountain gorillas are one of Rwanda’s top tourism revenue earners, accounting for 90 per cent of park revenue generated in the country.

“The implementation of this increase was done without due consultation and we regret the manner in which this was done despite our attempts to consult on this process,” a statement signed by the chairman of tourism chamber in Private Sector Federation (PSF) reads in parts.

“We have already seen strong reactions from our partners, and we are very sure that this is going to have a negative impact on our businesses and the industry at large,”

Rwanda’s tourism receipts leaped to $200 million in 2010, up 14 per cent from 2009. In 2011, the sector generated $251million.

In a press statement released after the increase of permit pricing in gorilla, RDB CEO John Gara said; “This increase comes at a time when there is significant growth of the gorilla population as well as an increasing demand for gorilla tourism.”

“We are very committed to sustain our efforts in conservation in order to protect their environment as well as the rich biodiversity that exist in our national parks.” Gara added.

The population of mountain gorillas has increased by 26.3 per cent over the last seven years with a 3.7 percent annual growth, according to Gorilla Census conducted in April 2010.

{{ENDS}}

{{The Rwanda Development Board has confirmed plans to implement changes to current gorilla permit pricing. The prices have been increased by 50% and this will take effect from June 1st, 2012 save for prior bookings made before this date.}}

In a press statement, RDB CEO John Gara said; “This increase comes at a time when there is significant growth of the gorilla population as well as an increasing demand for gorilla tourism.”

“We are very committed to sustain our efforts in conservation in order to protect their environment as well as the rich biodiversity that exist in our national parks.”

Rwanda’s gorilla conservation efforts have shown significant success. Today, there are ten gorilla families which accommodate a maximum of eight tourists per day each, a number that has almost doubled over the last five years.

The head of Tourism and Conservation at RDB Rica Rwigamba explained; “We have seen a sustained increase in interest for gorilla trek as well as recognition that good conservation can truly contribute to growth of these species.
Mountain Gorillas are the only increasing gorilla species population, which is evidence that responsible tourism and conservation go hand in hand.”

{{Rwanda may be known for its violent past but tourism officials are hoping, with the help of mountain gorillas, that travelers to the country will see for themselves why the “land of a thousand hills” is worth a visit.}}

Rwanda is one of just three countries where the world’s population of mountain gorillas can be observed in the wild. In addition to Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park, gorillas also inhabit Uganda’s Mgahinga National Park and Democratic Republic of Congo’s Virunga National Park.

These parks border each other and the area the mountain gorillas call home is known as Virunga Massif.

Volcanoes National Park is about two hours from Kigali, Rwanda’s capital. The drive to the park will make it obvious why Rwanda is referred to as the “land of a thousand hills.” Locals cultivate the lush green hills where the gorilla treks begin, and there are five volcanoes in the park.

The scenery is stunning from a distance but it may lose its appeal as you make your climb in search of the gorillas, who will determine the altitude and incline of the hike. The trek up the mountain can be challenging, with thick brush, fire ants and stinging nettles.

It can take minutes or hours depending on where the gorillas decide to rest.
“The gorillas don’t need any visas or passports to leave one country and go to another one,” the guide jokes as he leads a group of eight tourists up the side of the mountain.

Lucky visitors will see the animals feeding and crushing through the underbrush, babies running around and full-grown gorillas inching toward observers loudly declaring their importance.

Hikers are not permitted closer than 10 meters, but the gorillas are under no such restriction and may creep closer, as tourist heart rates increase.

As with most wildlife tours there are no guarantees of gorilla sightings, but the odds of seeing them are good, according to Simon Gluckman, president of Intrepid Expeditions. “In 11 years I’ve never had someone in Rwanda not see the gorillas,” says Gluckman.

Gluckman tells his clients to prepare for treks up to 9,000 feet above sea level. “If the gorillas are moving one particular day and there is somebody having a hard time keeping up physically then that person may not see them.”

Visitors need a permit to hike up the mountain in hopes of seeing a family of mountain gorillas. The cost is $500 per person and permits are limited to 56 a day.

Permits should be purchased well in advance and they can be obtained through a tour company or directly from the issuing organization, the country’s Tourism and Conservation Office. Included in the price are the guides assigned by the park.

Once the mountain gorillas are located, visitors will spend an hour watching these incredible animals. “We only have one tour a day for one hour in order to give the animals free range,” says Felix Semivumbi, a guide in the area for 24 years.

Perhaps not as high-profile but also worth the time is a trip to see Rwanda’s golden monkeys, and the price of the permit is less expensive than for gorillas: $100 per person.

The monkeys are also located in Volcanoes National Park. This tour is a good way to get adjusted to the altitude, which when tracking the gorillas can be at elevations from 7,000 to 9,000 feet, and it offers a taste of what to expect on the mountain gorilla trek if visitors do this first.

“It’s a shorter walk to the golden monkeys than the mountain gorillas” since the gorillas are found at the higher altitude says Semivumbi.

Unlike the gorillas, which move at a slower pace and tend to rest as a group in one place, the monkeys keep tourists on their toes. “They are fast so we have to be fast,” says Semivumbi.

Once spotted you may be following the monkeys as they swing from the treetops overhead. Watching them you will realize how aptly named playground equipment such as monkey bars and jungle gyms are; only here the equipment is bamboo.

Seeing these endangered animals in their natural habitat is worth an extra day in the area. There’s only one tour per day for the monkeys and one overlapping tour for gorillas, so you can’t visit both the big and small primates in the same day.

It’s possible to visit several of Rwanda’s many memorial sites commemorating the 1994 genocide in a day.

Learning about the country’s history is important in understanding the people and places you will encounter, says Rwandan Ambassador to the United States James Kimonyo.

The Rwanda of today is a different place than the country that once dominated the news, he says.

“It is one of the safest places to visit,” says Kimonyo. “You can go out at night and not be bothered.”

Exhibits introduce you to children such as 4-year-old Ariane Umutoni who was “stabbed in her eyes and head.” Outside in the quiet courtyard, remains continue to be placed in mass graves as they are discovered.

Many churches around the country are no longer places of worship but places to pay respect to those who died while trying to escape death.
Instead of safe havens, some churches turned into places to find easy prey to massacre.

Nyamata and Ntarama are two churches about an hour outside of Kigali. The bullet-riddled roofs and clothing of those killed are reminders of the people who huddled inside in hope of being spared.

A guide at Nyamata Genocide Memorial said more than 10,000 people were killed at the church and in the immediate area. The yard of Nyamata is now a mass grave where freshly cut flowers are left by those who survived.

Down in the crypt is a powerful display of reality that some may find unnecessary to view: rows upon rows of skulls and bones.

People are still healing, but Rwandans have opened their past in order to embrace the future.

Tourism is important in rebuilding, says Kimonyo, and thankfully Rwanda has enough natural and cultural history to make it worth a stamp in your passport.

{{Rwanda has joined international Council of Tourism Partners (ICTP) as one of its founding members.}}

It becomes the only East African Country joining this global tourism partnership at the time.

International Council of Tourism Partners (ICTP) has announced that Rwanda’s Development Board (RDB) has been allowed to be a member due to its continued efforts to improve Rwanda’s tourism.

It (ICTP) is a social responsibility and sustainable travel organization whose destination alliance gives countries, regions and cities access to joint marketing, Public Relation, educational and lobbying activities.

Geoffrey Lipman the president of ICTP said; “It’s a great honor to have Rwanda join our dynamic group of quality travel destinations committed to green growth, because they are already widely recognized as a global tourism champion.”

“Africa is increasingly a serious player on the world tourism stage with its magnificent scenery, unique wildlife, and fascinating cultures. We are looking forward to working with Rwanda to make sure they stay high on the list of most sought-after destinations.” Lipman added.

While Juergen T. Steinmetz, ICTP Chairman noted; “I have been following the development of tourism in Rwanda over the years, and I’m impressed with the activities, involvements, and contributions the destination has been making.”

“Rwanda has been conducting itself as a responsible member of the global tourism industry, and is a very special destination with a great future.” Said Steinmetz.

Recommending on new acquired membership, John Gara, the RDB’s Chief Executive Officer it was beneficial to join ICTP.

“Rwanda has enormous tourism potential and attractive destinations that are relatively unknown. The ICTP platform is an opportunity for RDB to showcase these tremendous tourism pleasures and conservation initiatives to the world through the joint marketing and media programs of member countries.” Gara said.

The ICTP alliance is represented in Haleiwa, Hawaii, USA, Brussels, Belgium, Bali, Indonesia, Victoria, and Seychelles.

Other current members include Seychelles, La Reunion, Johannesburg, Zimbabwe, Oman, Grenada, Hawaii, and Saipan.

{“World Tourism Day is an opportunity to reflect on the importance of tourism to global well-being. As we travel, let us engage with other cultures and celebrate human diversity. On this observance, let us recognise tourism as a force for a more tolerant, open and united world.” UN Sectary General Ban Ki-moon.}

{{27th September of every year, the world marks the world’s tourism day. This year’s theme is “The Role of Tourism Linking Together the Cultures of the World through Travel”.}}

Rwanda will also be celebrating this day but under a different theme; “Tourism begins with you”, Rica Rwigamba, Head of Tourism and Conservation at RDB told igihe.com.

“The 2011 WTD events in Rwanda will focus on domestic tourism, bringing the country’s attractions home to the people of Rwanda to learn more about the natural attractions found across the Land of a Thousand Hills through the local theme ‘Tourism Begins with you’ besides the global theme Tourism Linking Cultures,” Rwigamba explained.

Rwigamba told {igihe.com} that efforts are being engineered to encourage Rwandans to take part in tourism.
Statistics show that only 23% of the Rwandan population is involved in tourism while 77% are foreigners.

In a bid to market tourist venues in Rwanda, Rwanda (RDB) is hosting 24 winners of a radio quiz on Radio Rwanda and Contact FM, undertaken ahead of the World Tourism Day celebrations, to a guided- all inclusive field trip to Nyungwe National Park.

The winners will have an opportunity to appreciate the conservation efforts undertaken and see the tourism potential of the canopy walk and the various hikes starting off from the visitor center.

Tourism is among the top sectors in Rwanda attracting foreign currency.

In 2010 the sector earned US$200 million (Frw120 billion). Rwigamba expressed positive hopes for increased in follows of foreign currency given that the tourism sector so far has increased its revenue by 28% this year.