Category: Tourism

The framework will enhance cooperation between the above parties and improve the region’s competitiveness as a tourism destination.

As part of the agreement, the partners will collaborate on addressing challenges faced in the region’s travel industry and explore a range of solutions and initiatives that can help transform businesses in the sector, market the region’s tourism offerings to new audiences and promote regional travel.

The partnership will see RDB, RCT and KATA cooperating to implement Rwanda’s and Kenya’s tourism marketing and promotional programmes by conducting joint-marketing activities that will drive visitors to the countries’ attractions and experiences.

The institutions will also organise familiarization trips and educational webinars to promote regional travel, thereby creating increased opportunities for private sector actors in the travel industry.

Other activities agreed upon in the agreement include; the provision of opportunities for exchanging knowledge, expertise and best practices on travel; promoting the exchange of familiarisation visits between Kenya and Rwanda, encouraging tourists flows between Kenya and Rwanda, sharing the countries’ respective calendar of events for stakeholders information and attendance and engaging other African regional blocks through the new Africa Continental Free Trade Area which was launched on 1 January, 2021.

The partnership was announced in the presence of Amb. Richard Masozera Rwanda’s Ambassador to Kenya, Ms. Agnes Mucuha, the Chief Executive Officer for KATA, Fred Odek, the EATP Chairman and Robert Okumu the RwandAir Country Manager, Kenya.

Commenting on the partnership, Clare Akamanzi, Chief Executive Officer, Rwanda Development Board said: “We are very excited about this cooperation and look forward to working more closely across the board with all the players in the travel and tourism industry as we look to increase tourism revenues and create more jobs within the sector. Kenya and Rwanda are already one of the most popular destinations for the growing regional tourism market and we look forward to having more people visit and taste the unique offerings in these destinations.”

Aimable Rutagarama, Chaiman of the Rwanda Chamber of Tourism said, Rwanda and Kenya are adored by local and foreign visitors alike noting that the increased cooperation between the two countries will see an uptick in the number of travellers interested in visiting both countries.

“Today’s strategic partnership lays strong foundations to tap the potential of Kenya and Rwanda as a promising traveller destination for the regional and international market,” he said.

Agnes Mucuha, Chief Executive, Kenya Association of Travel Agents also expressed delight for the partnership with Rwanda Development Board, Rwanda Chamber of Tourism, and the East Africa Tourism Platform highlighting that the collaboration will allow for greater sharing of ideas, resources, and expertise.

“This partnership places Rwanda and KATA on the path to becoming a regional and continental lead in creating safe travel experiences, yet meet the needs of travellers,” she noted.

Fred Odek, Chairperson of the East Africa Tourism Platform said: “This partnership will shape the course of regional tourism. This is the best time for the region to come together to grow its tourism and the associated economic gains for its industry players.”

Robert Okumu, RwandAir’s Country Manager for Kenya explained that ‘RwandAir (WB) will be the Title Sponsor for the Air Tickets during the familiarization trips to Rwanda facilitating the much-needed product knowledge and experience’.

He added that RwandAir has also released special discounted airfares and holiday packages for the Kenyan public to visit and explore the land of thousand hills.

Mr Okumu said this while noting that an average of 1,000 passengers travels from Nairobi to Kigali monthly for business and leisure.

In closing, Amb. Richard Masozera noted: “The signing of these agreements between RDB, RCT, KATA and EATP represents a visible result of the thriving Kenya-Rwanda relationship. The partnership is also in line with our efforts to transform and build new travel and tourism industry capabilities. As we chart a new path forward for the travel sector, it is crucial to focus on growing local travel for us to help the industry to rebound.”

Tourism is a vital aspect of Kenya-Rwanda bilateral cooperation. Kenya is one of the most popular destinations in Africa for Rwandan visitors and continues to attract more visitors every year. Equally, Kenyans have been increasingly choosing Rwanda as their regional destination of choice with the City of Kigali and other in-country destinations on a list of places to visit by Kenyans.

Situated along the Kwitonda trail, Singita will add about 12 hotel rooms and it will employ close to 70 people, according to Luke Bailles, the founder of Singita.

“Singita Kwitonda will offer 8 suites and a villa with magnificent views of the Sabyinyo, Gahinga and Muhabura volcanoes,” he explained.

He added that they have locally sourced labor and construction materials during the construction.

Bailles said the opening of the new property will put gorilla trekking within easy reach and in combination with other destination tours within Rwanda for tourists to take advantage of.

It will also offer tourists a classic safari option to Singita’s private concessions on the Serengeti plains in neighboring Tanzania.

Conservation efforts

Bailles said they are working in close partnership with the Rwanda Development Board and local communities, in taking a measured, long-term approach to conservation on the edge of the Volcanoes National Park, in line with the company’s established 100-year vision to build sustainable revenue streams to fund the preservation of African wilderness for future generations.

“We have been treading lightly on the land during the entire construction process. Sustainability is at the core of the construction project. We will initially establish a nursery and plant over 60,000 tree saplings in and around the new lodge. Ultimately, Singita hopes to be able to support the Rwandan government in finding ways to increase gorilla habitat while remaining sensitive in assisting neighbouring communities to thrive economically and socially,” he explained.

“It’s been our dream to become involved in Rwanda tourism,” he said, adding that the move to invest in Rwanda’s high-end market was inspired by the country’s sustainable tourism strategy.

Named in tribute to Kwitonda, a great silverback gorilla that died close to six years ago and whose legend lives on in Rwanda for being known for his humility and gentleness, the Singita Kwitonda Lodge joins the 13 award winning lodges and camps across South Africa, Tanzania and Zimbabwe run by Singita.

Singita is a conservation brand that has been preserving African wilderness for the past 25 years, offering guests an exceptional safari experience with 14 luxury, award-winning lodges and camps across five regions. In partnership with non-profit Funds & Trusts who implement strategic conservation projects in each region, Singita’s 100-year purpose is to preserve and protect pristine land and wildlife populations, and help create economic independence within local communities surrounding the reserves.

One&Only is to launch two resorts in Rwanda, One&Only Nyungwe House and One&Only Gorilla’s Nest.

The two properties will sit under the new brand of One&Only Nature Resorts, as the hotel operator seeks to expand its reach beyond its traditional beach resort roots.

Along with the One&Only Nature Resorts brand will be One&Only Urban Resorts and One&Only Private Homes, as well as One&Only Beach Resorts.

The company had its foundations in the African continent where its founder Sol Kerzner is from, but it only has one property there at the moment, One&Only Cape Town.

The addition of the two properties in Rwanda gives it a strong foothold in a growing destination where few other international luxury brands have yet ventured.

One&Only Nyungwe House will open first in Gisakura, a working tea plantation on the edge of the Nyungwe National Park.

The park is home to the Nyungwe forest, thought to be one of the oldest in Africa, with a diverse environment that is home to more than 13 species of primates, representing 20% of all the apes in Africa; 275 species of birds; and 75 different species of mammals.

The hotel will have 22 rooms and two, two-room Forest suites; no firm date was given for its opening, but the company said Q4 2017 was likely.

The other property, One&Only Gorilla’s Nest, is located near the village of Kingi, on the foothills of the Virunga Volcano range and is set for a 2018 opening.

Guests will have views of of the Volcanoes national park and the rare chance of trekking to see the Mountain Gorillas Rwanda is famous for.

It is one of only three countries in the world where these critically endangered creatures live; experts estimate there are only 780 mountain gorillas in existence, a third of which are in Rwanda, with numbers increasing there by 14% in the past 12 years.

In addition to the gorilla trek, guests will also be able to visit Dian Fossey’s Karisoke Camp.

“Rwanda is such an incredible destination with truly once-in-a-lifetime experiences,” said One&Only chief executive officer Philippe Zuber. “We look forward to immersing our guests in the country and culture and providing that ultimate connection with nature in the ultimate locations. Building on the legacy and success of One&Only, it is an exciting time for the brand.”

He hinted he would be able to share “additional locations for our resorts”, soon.

Also under the One&Only Nature Resorts will sit Emirates One&Only Wolgan Valley in Australia.

It was the first hotel in the world to achieve carbon-neutral certification by CarbonZero, and all One&Only Nature Resorts will aim for this distinction.

One&Only to open hotels in Rwanda

Source:TTG

The government of Rwanda has started a project of transforming Nyandungu marshland in Ndera and Nyarugunga sectors from Kicukiro and Gasabo districts an eco-tourism park where people can meet for leisure, carry out various entertainment performances and get an insight of Rwanda’s history.

The project is part of government efforts to preserve the environment, improve diversity of the ecosystem; reduce floods, giving marshland preservation models and creating environment and tourism-related jobs.

The project will cost Rwf 2,413,699,149.

The Director General of Rwanda Environment Management Authority (REMA), Colette Ruhamya has told IGIHE that the project is being assessed and will go into force next year.

“Establishing an eco-tourism park in Nyandungu marshland is part of its preservation and protecting it from further devastation. It must be rehabilitated and rejuvenate areas where vegetation was destroyed. Other areas of the marshland will see modern buildings attracting visitors for leisure. The project is under assessment and on completion it will provide a back-yard park for tourists coming to Kigali,” she said.

“It is true that the project will contribute to country’s economic growth and restore the ecosystem including trees and birds which disappeared from the marshland.There is a team in place to follow up and improve this project,” she added.

The Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund protects about half of the mountain gorilla population in Rwanda’s Virunga Mountains, with our courageous teams of trackers and wardens. But the gorillas know no borders, and sometimes a group crosses over the border into the Congolese side of the mountains, where Rwandan trackers cannot go. That means our direct protection as well as our daily data collection for that group will stop, as we wait for the group to come back.

This was the case with Kuryama’s group, which has spent two recent periods in Congo. This included eight months between 2014 and 2015, and again from October 2015 until September of this year. Then, finally, on Sept. 30, the group was spotted on the top of Mt. Bisoke. But its composition had changed, with four original gorillas missing, having probably transferred to other groups in Congo. And those who were left included seven males and only one female.

Before they went to Congo, the group had already faced a number of challenges. Former leader, Kuryama, was wounded in a fight and then died in 2012, and then his successor, Kirahure, died after being wounded in 2015. The group’s leadership was then left, by default, to 22-year-old silverback Vuba, who led them over the border into Congo in October of last year.

Now that the group has returned, we have resumed our daily monitoring. With its unbalanced ratio of males to females, this group should provide a lot of insight into gorilla behavior in unusual situations. Vuba has a calm temperament, like that of his father Titus, who also once led a group composed of all males and one female.

Vuba seems to be respected by the other males in the group but they aren’t intimidated by him either, says Fossey Fund research manager Winnie Eckardt, Ph.D. Two of them are already silverbacks, two are younger blackbacks, and one is a juvenile. The female – Mahirwe – has an infant estimated to be about 7 months old, so she will not be available for reproduction again for about another three years. We don’t know who fathered this infant, but our ongoing genetic studies of paternity among the gorillas will eventually give us that answer. For now, says gorilla program manager Veronica Vecellio, “We hope that the group will stay on the Rwandan side of the Virungas, so we don’t miss any other important phases of each individual’s development!”

Kuryama gorilla family returns to Rwanda