Rwanda targets more revenues from conference tourism

Kigali - Rwanda aims to generate more revenues from conference tourism this year, following the launch of a strategy called Meetings, Incentives, Conferences/ Conventions, and Events/Exhibitions (MICE) last year. The strategy, dubbed "Convention Bureau", is expected to cost US$1. 5 million on average on an annual basis. "Convention Bureau" is an institutional framework that will implement the tourism campaign. Faustin Karasira, acting head of the tourism department at the Rwanda Development Board (RDB) told local reporters on Wednesday that during the financial year 2013- 2014, revenues from tourism grew by three per cent due to the different initiatives that were undertaken among which included MICE tourism. Rwanda hosted a number of conferences last year like the African Development Bank annual general assembly, World Export Development Forum, the 20th genocide commemoration activities, and the 10th gorilla naming ceremony. "We believe MICE tourism will be contributing significantly to tourism revenues given that there are investments happening in the sector like the expansion of RwandAir, opening of new hotels, the single tourist visa and even the positive perception of Rwanda by our visitors," he explained. Karasira stated that with different policy makers and experts from around the world coming to Rwanda for conferences, it showed the confidence they had in Rwanda as a MICE tourism destination. From July 2013 to June last year, Rwanda received 1.17 million visitors which translated in US$297.4 million in revenues, a three percent increase compared to the previous fiscal year where the small central African state received 1.14 million tourists that brought in US$296.4 million in revenues, according to figures from RDB. Karasira said they were doing aggressive tourism marketing at regional and international level through the introduction of tourism marketing representations in China and the East African Community countries. In addition to that, he said new tourism products had been introduced such as religious tourism, caves tourism in Musanze district and the Gisovu destination found north of Nyungwe National Park that offered tourist the chance to view the source of the river Nile, Chimpanzees and nature as well as touring the nearby tea plantations. (NAMPA / XINHUA)