Sector players call for affordable infrastructures to promote Domestic Tourism

By Elias Hakizimana.

Domestic Tourism remains down due to unaffordable infrastructures to local citizens according to sector players.

Dr Callixte Kabera, the vice chancellor of the University Tourism, Technology and Business Studies (UTB) embarked on this issue on Thursday, September 30^th, 2021 during a virtual ceremony to celebrate the World Tourism Day.

The World Tourism Day is currently celebrated on September 27 every year.

Dr Callixte Kabera said that local people who visit the gorillas prefer to stay in the hotels around the visited tour destinations instead of staying at the destinations’ facilities due to high cost.

“Despite  good image of tourism in Rwanda, there are still some challenges hindering people to adopt domestic tourism. These include high cost of infrastructures such as tour destinations, an example of Musanze/Kinigi in gorillas’ habitats, the infrastructures are at the highest level, pushing local tourists to stay in hotels instead of using the facilities at the visited place.” Kabera said.

He added that there is need for affordable infrastructures that host all tourists at both local and international levels.

Tourism sector’s revenues reduced slightly from $438 in 2019 to $121 in 2020 due to the impacts of Covid-19 pandemic that halted some activities.

Dr Kabera said that Rwanda should put much efforts in Tourism development during these times of recovery from Covid-19 impacts and re-establish the role of Tourism in the development of the country in particular.

Dr Emmy Tushabe, Lecturer and Head of Tourism and Hospitality Development at UTB said that tourism in Rwanda is something that should continue to be strengthened and encouraged by the people.

The cost to visit The Volcano Park is $1500 which is equivalent to Rwf1.5 million. Dr Tushabe said that this is much money for both locals and foreigners and especially too much for Rwandans.

Gap in Accessibility

Dr Tushabe added that accessibility of tourism products is also a challenge for tourists. “Unless Rwanda has good roads and cars to ease transport, tourism products are far and not easy to reach.” He noted.

On the other hand, Dr Tushabe said that the high cost of tourism infrastructures is meaningful to protect Gorilla habitats as it avoids mass visit which is not safe for the Gorillas.