RDB anticipates more revenue

The Rwanda Development Board anticipates an increase in the amount revenue that will be collected from the sector this year. The amount is expected to almost double to $440 million by the end of the years from $282 million that was collected in 2012. The head of tourism and conservation at RDB Rica Rwigamba, said while addressing t The Rwanda Focus in an interview recently that the tourism revenue targets have been improved in the second Economic Development and Poverty Reduction Strategy. EDPRS is considered as Rwanda Government’s plan that defines the country’s medium-term economic development approach  to be flowed in order improve on Rwanda’s status and ensure that it achieves middle-income status by 2020.

Rwigamba also said that the board is evaluating the targets for instance, before there was about 15% revenue growth target per year but with the new EDPRS, over25% growth is anticipated every year.  However, to be able to achieve the target, there are several things that have got to be addressed like improvement of the infrastructure in Rwanda for easy movement from one place to another, better accommodation facilities in some regions outside Kigali for the tourists.

Local visitors also do contributed to the growth in revenues like in the first quarter of this year, there were 290,000 visitors registered compared to 242,000 visitors same period a year earlier. This was a small increase but it is expected to grow with time as the region gains stability, the lower numbers were attributed to what was happening in the region, especially Kenyan elections and so  the first three months were not the best in the region but also appreciate the fact that there was not decline.

Rwigamba said the board intends to put more efforts during the peak season so that as to catch-up on the growth especially now that the country targets $317 million of tourism earnings by the end of this year, compared to $282 million fetched in 2012. She said, all they have got to do is improve on the marketing skills, work on the infrastructure like the Kigali Convention Centre, Kivu Belt, Sheraton Hotels and Marriot Hotels which will attract more tourists.

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