Rwanda is emerges as Africa best at ITB 2014

In the years from 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010 Rwanda has won awards as the Best exhibitor from Africa and this year, Rwanda has once again reclaimed the top position at the recently ended ITB 2014. This was  exhibited in a joint pavilion together with partner countries like Uganda and Kenya which 2 also were apart of the top 5 choices of the judges for African exhibitors.

 For the whole of last year, just like in any other country in East Africa, tourism has remained on top of the economic performance scale in Rwanda and it aims for better performance in the current year, especially since one of the country’s key events the 10th Kwita Izina, Gorilla Naming Festival is soon and will be held on the 21st of June this year in Kinigi, outside Musanze.

Ms. Valentine Rugwabiza, the CEO of the Rwanda Development Board and also Rwanda’s delegation leader did express her personal delight while attending the ITB for the first time.  She said that the recognition is important as it is evidence that the market is responding positively to region’s products.  She added that being among the best 5 out of the 200 African exhibitors is just proof that Rwanda is a preferred destination in Africa  that is why they have to continue working together  if they are to reap fruits from these new arrangements in the northern corridor for example through the ‘’Coalition of the Willing’ within the East African Community in countries like Rwanda, Kenya and Uganda, which in recent months have announced a number of joint major infrastructure projects to link the three countries closer together and integrate the respective economies.

Burundi came second, it was followed by Kenya while Uganda still came a respectable 5th for the African continent, underscoring the attraction East Africa holds for visitors from all over the globe.   

Meanwhile, back at home, Rwanda has officially opened up an intensified domestic tourism campaign which is intended to bring more Rwandan’s to visit their three national parks namely Akagera national park, Nyungwe Forest and Volcanoes also known as Gorilla National Park along side the main cultural sites which RDB in recent years helped to restore and modernize like the National Museum in Huye, the King’s Palace in Nyanza and many other important key sites.

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