{Kigali will be cashing in on a number of high-level conferences scheduled for the end of the year through mid-2014.}<\/p>\n
This, government officials and industry players say, is the result of a long-term strategy to combat the seasonality problem through developing conference tourism.<\/p>\n
Among key events are this month\u2019s Transform Africa conference, with 1,500 delegates from all over the world, the recently concluded Uganda-Rwanda Business and Agri-Business Forum, the East Africa Business Summit due next year and the African Development Bank (AfDB) general assembly. The two-week AfDB assembly in Kigali in May is expected to bring in about 4,000 delegates.<\/p>\n
The government hopes conference tourism, which is free from the seasonality problem, will help it to achieve its big plans for the sector. <\/p>\n
Tourism has been on an upward trend, having fetched $251 million last year and is expected to net $352 million next year. Its projection for 2017 is $860 million.<\/p>\n
Officials say investments made to improve customer service and increase room numbers makes them satisfied that Rwanda will be ready to host these conferences. <\/p>\n
Statistics indicate some $300 million in investment was pumped into the hospitality industry last year with much of it going into hotel business, which explains a jump in the number of rooms from 4,825 in 2009 to 6,800 in 2012. <\/p>\n
The hospitality industry is also set to receive a major boost early next year when the 244-room Marriot Hotel opens its doors.<\/p>\n
The Marriot will be the first hotel in East, Central and Southern Africa shall break the monopoly of Serena Hotels in the five-star segment in Rwanda.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere is enough market for everybody,\u201d said Solomon Adede, the chief executive officer of New Century Development Ltd. \u201cKigali can be made a preferred destination by making cost of accommodation affordable and available.\u201d<\/p>\n
{{The East African}}<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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