Rwanda the first to use MapUp in Africa

Rwanda has been the first African country to cooperate with tourism players, Google and citizen mappers to include the tourism facilities and attractions in the country so that people from different countries all over the world can know them through a single search.

Rica Rwigamba,the head of tourism at RDB  talked about the development after finishing the deal with Google.RDB and Google have worked together  to draw the country’s tourist attractions since the travel industry has become the top foreign currency earner in the country and  the internet has become the major  way of communication in the tourism industry.

According to the World Bank, tourism contributed 23% of total exports between 2005 to 2008, coffee 11% and tea 8% which shows the industry is the top foreign exchange earner.

Rica said the development is to make travel in the country quick and more comfortable.GUS experts, students, Forty mappers and tourism operators have contributed a lot in the system and will be updated frequently as  the Rwanda’s tourism infrastructures grows.

Apart from the attractions like national parks, Congo trail, banks, restaurants, shopping centres, forex bureau, hotels will be included on the map.MapUp uses the standard Google Maps application which offers route planners, maps and service locators.

UGANDA SAFARI NEWS