Rwanda Office for Tourism and National Parks / Office Rwandaise Pour le Tourisme et Parcs Nationaux Presented by: Werabe Emmanuel

Rwanda Office for Tourism and National Parks / Office Rwandaise Pour le Tourisme et Parcs Nationaux

www.rwandatourism.com

Presented by: Werabe Emmanuel

Director of Tourism RDB T&C

The Role of Tourism in Poverty Alleviation in Rwanda



Our Mission Is ….

‘To conserve the rich biodiversity of the

Protected Areas and to develop, sustainable

tourism in collaboration with

stakeholders for the benefit of all the Rwanda People’



Rwanda Tourism Products:

National ParksRwanda’s three National Parks are its most famous attractions

as tourists are eager to see their fascinating flora and fauna. The

protection and enhancement of these parks is a vital priority

Akagera National ParkAkagera National Park, defined by its “archetypal African savannah landscape”

Volcanoes Volcanoes National ParkNational Park on the slopes of the Virunga mountain range, famous for the country’s biggest attraction, the mountain gorillas

Nyungwe National Nyungwe National ParkPark, the largest single tract of montane forest in East and Central Africa with incredibly rich biodiversity



Rwanda Tourism Products:

Cultural TourismRwanda’s distinctive culture attracts visitors keen to learn about and

appreciate Rwanda’s history, society and unique cultural expressions.

Traditional dances,

tours through local

communities, and

visits to the

country’s museums

and king’s palace

give tourists a better

understanding of

where Rwanda is

coming from and

where it is going as

a nation.



Tourism as a poverty reduction strategy

• Target 225 million USD by 2010 • Direct employment 490,000 by 2010• By 2016 expected to account for 5.8% GDP and 4.6% of employment (WTTC source) • Tourism will help conserve our environment (we provide incentives for conservation 5% of park revenue)• Tourism policy is in place and outlines the role of all stakeholders in tourism development• Community tourism guidelines that will support and streamline Rwandese initiatives



RDB-T&C Efforts:Poverty Alleviation

and Revenue Sharing in Tourism

Poverty Alleviation• Association Banda

– 100 employees, sales point of handicrafts at RDB-T&C Headquarters Nyungwe National Park, language training by ORTPN

• Kinigi Guest House (ASOFERWA)– Support to guest house: employs 35 people, offers tailoring school for women, associations with other women’s associations

• Sacola Lodge– Over 600 employees 80% women, fully owned by community, funds generated from Kwita Izina-Gorilla Naming Ceremony

Community Tourism Initiatives• Bee keeping• Pottery projects• Sustainable farming• Tea and coffee tours

•Town tours, village tours, tours to local markets• Genocide memorial sites and personal accounts• Gacaca courts

Nyabitsinde Primary School

Revenue Sharing by RDB-T&C

Rain water collection tanks

5% of park revenues offered to

communities as incentives for

conservation; RDB-T&C has so far

provided $546,279 to support

community projects



• Some Tourism initiatives for poverty

alliviation in Rwanda

• Association Banda• Employment to over 100 people

• Activities performed: Traditional

dance / handicraft souvenirs/

table cloth /performance –

ceremonial wedding/ brewing etc

• Sales point is RDB T&C H/Q

Nyungwe National Park

• Local guides trained by RDB T&C

Speak English and French



• Traditional Baskets( Gahaya

Links)



• Kinigi Guest House

ASOFERWA

• Women association ASOFAKI

provides all the food to the

hotel worth 450,000 Rwf

• Tailoring school for women –

provides tailoring facilities to

Hotel worth 300,000 Rwf

• Community Women run the

souvenir shop in the lodge

• Maracuja project

• Employs 35 permanent staff



•SACOLA Lodge

• Over 600 localCommunity ,80% women• Fully Owned by the Communities• Funds Generated from Gorilla naming Ceremony, USAIDIGCP and Private donor



• Milk Cooler -KARANGAZI



• Revenue Sharing-Nyabitsinde Primary school (Musanze District



• Revenue Sharing-Rain Water collection tanks



• Other examples of community tourism Initiatives

• Traditional dancing• Bee keeping• Arts and crafts • Pottery Projects• Sustainable Farming• Tea and coffee tours• Town tours, Village tours and visits to local

markets• Genocide memorial sites and accounts of the

tragic part of Rwanda history• Gacaca Courts,etc



• Research priorities

Information needed on tourism and poverty reduction by RDB-TC

• Community benefits from tourism investments

• What do communities need to do to benefit more from tourism?



Murakoze!

Thank You!

Documents

Rwanda Office for Tourism and National Parks / Office Rwandaise Pour le Tourisme et Parcs Nationaux Presented by: Werabe Emmanuel