The increase amounts to $22.5 million, or nearly 643%, in one year. Spending also rose sharply from the previous quarter, when residents spent $3.9 million in Europe.
The figures are contained in the Travel Expenditure Survey 2026 published by the National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda (NISR).
According to the report, residents of Rwanda travelling abroad by air spent a total of $76.2 million during the second quarter of 2026. Business and professional travel accounted for the largest share, at $32.8 million.
By destination region, Europe recorded the highest expenditure, with residents spending $26 million there. Asia followed with $17.3 million, EAC countries with $13.1 million, North America with $10.3 million and other African countries with $9.1 million.
NISR estimates that travel expenditure covers money spent by residents while staying in the countries they visit, including accommodation, food and drinks, transport, shopping, entertainment, education and health services, among others. The estimate excludes the cost of international transportation.
The $26 million is an estimate rather than a figure obtained by collecting travellers’ receipts or checking their bank accounts.
NISR calculates travel expenditure by combining the number of residents returning to Rwanda from abroad, based on data from the Directorate General of Immigration and Emigration (DGIE), with the average length of their stay and the estimated average amount spent per person per day.
In the second quarter of 2026, a total of 12,669 residents of Rwanda returned by air from Europe.
Of these, 5,330 had travelled for business and professional purposes, 4,735 to visit friends and relatives, 1,859 for holidays, 708 for education and 37 for medical reasons.
NISR estimates that residents travelling to Europe for business stayed for an average of 11 days. Those travelling for education stayed for 238 days, those seeking medical services for 22 days, holidaymakers for 16 days and those visiting friends and relatives for 17 days.
Daily expenditure also varied according to the purpose of travel. Business travellers spent an estimated average of $127 per day, those travelling for education $48, medical travellers $106, holidaymakers $130 and those visiting friends and relatives $78.
Using these estimates, the 5,330 business travellers who stayed for an average of 11 days and spent $127 per day accounted for approximately $7.45 million.
The 708 residents who travelled for education, stayed for an average of 238 days and spent $48 per day accounted for approximately $8.09 million.
Those travelling for medical reasons accounted for about $86,000, while holidaymakers accounted for approximately $3.87 million and those visiting friends and relatives about $6.28 million.
Combined, these estimates amount to approximately $25.8 million, which rounds to the reported $26 million.
The NISR report also shows that residents travelling abroad by land spent $23.5 million during the second quarter of 2026.
Business was the main purpose of these trips, accounting for $16.2 million in expenditure.
Together, the figures show that residents’ spending abroad varied considerably according to both their destination and the purpose of their travel during the quarter.
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