{Rwanda targets to maximize benefits of international events held in Rwanda which is pushing private investors to increase efforts in preparations of upcoming meetings including African Union Summit, Transform Africa, World Economic Forum among others expected to be held in Kigali this year.}
These efforts are embedded in the program of making a good use of opportunities as a land locked country, targeting to earn USD150 million USD per year from MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions).
In 2016 ,Rwanda expects to host World Economic Forum scheduled from 11th to 13th May, Forum for Agriculture Research in Africa (FARA) scheduled 13th to 19th June and the meeting of African Society of Blood Transfusion scheduled from 31st May to 4th June 2016 among others.
Such meetings and various activities will attract hard currencies from international participants.
Efforts have been put in the development of infrastructures like construction of hotels where it was confirmed that the building of Kigali Convention Center will have been completed in May, 2016 and expected to host the African Union Summit as the first big event.
In the past, international meetings have attracted much foreign exchange for the country. In 2013, Rwanda earned USD 49 million from hosting international meetings.
Rwanda targets to increase rooms of hotels from the current 8000 rooms to 13,800 rooms by 2017.
Rwanda Development Board says a tourist visiting Rwanda, on average, spends USD300 per day on accommodation, food and transport. By 2017 Rwanda could earn USD 4 million from 13, 800 hotel rooms if they were all to be fully occupied.
Francis Gatare, the CEO of RDB has requested private investors to keep improving hospitality infrastructures and quality of services.
“Participants of World Economic Forum must get good services. This will be achieved through everyone’s commitment to kindly receive visitors, availing quality products at markets, good maintenance of hotels and well organized transport system to the extent that they will come back and encourage others to come to Rwanda,” he said.
The president of Private Sector Federation, Benjamin Gasamagera said that all money brought in by visitors goes into the hands of private investors, so their commitment to quality services means a lot to the entire hospitality industry.
“We are going to make a good use of the remaining time collaborating with private investors for better performance,” he said.
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