DUTCH TOURISM INCREASE BY 30% IN RWANDA

In 2011 between January and September, the Dutch tourists increased by 30% challenging the number of European tourists by 6% in Rwanda.

The head of tourism and conversation at RDB, Rica Rwigamba said the increase in the number of Dutch tourists ha been the continued attending of the annual Dutch tourism exhibition in Vakantibeur which is found in Netherlands.

The tourism exhibition for 2012 in Netherlands has been held at Utrecht and has attracted 130,000 visitors which was not the case in 2011 which means the number is expected to increase this year.

Rwanda’s major foreign exchange earner has been tourism where by by October last year, RDB had recorded US$183.2m from the sector.

The country started attending the Vakantibeur exhibitions in 2008 and then it signed a five year contract with the Centre for the promotion of Imports from Developing Countries which is an agency of the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Rica said the other reason that has led to an increase of the Dutch tourists has been the opening of routes by KLM in Rwanda in 2010.The airline has five direct flights every week from Amsterdam to Kigali which makes it easy for both business and leisure Dutch travelers.

Edwin Sabuhoro, the chairman of the Tourism Chamber said remarketing of the tourism sector this year will help expand potentials like cultural tourism which is expected to attract a big number of visitors.