Tourism revenue sharing strengthens conservation and community livelihoods around Akagera National Park

By The Inspirer.

Tourism-driven conservation efforts around Akagera National Park continue to deliver tangible benefits to surrounding communities, reinforcing the link between biodiversity protection and local development.

Through Rwanda’s tourism revenue-sharing program, districts bordering Akagera National Park—Kayonza, Gatsibo, and Nyagatare—received more than RWF 1 billion during the 2025/26 fiscal year. The funding supports community-led development initiatives while fostering positive relations between the park and its neighboring populations.

In 2024, Akagera National Park generated over RWF 6.7 billion in tourism revenue. Beyond park operations, conservation-related activities and community enterprises in and around the protected area have created employment opportunities and diversified household incomes.

Community cooperatives have benefited significantly from park-related economic activities. Fishing cooperatives operating in buffer zones earned more than RWF 172 million, while beekeeping cooperatives generated close to RWF 6 million. Artisans, builders, and casual laborers earned nearly RWF 2 million, and community-based trade and supply services recorded revenues exceeding RWF 7 million.

Under the national tourism revenue-sharing framework, 10 percent of income generated from visits to protected areas is reinvested directly into community development projects. These investments support the construction of critical infrastructure, including roads, health centers, schools, clean water systems, and other social services that improve quality of life and build local support for conservation.

Since the program was launched, Akagera National Park has contributed nearly RWF 7 billion to community development, supporting more than 250 projects in surrounding districts. These initiatives have played a key role in reducing human-wildlife conflict, strengthening community stewardship, and promoting sustainable natural resource use.

Visitor numbers to the park continue to rise, reflecting growing confidence in Rwanda’s conservation model. In 2024, Akagera National Park welcomed 56,219 visitors, up from 54,141 in 2023.

Established in 1934, Akagera National Park is home to more than 11,000 animals, including the iconic “Big Five”—lion, leopard, elephant, rhinoceros, and buffalo. The park also supports a rich diversity of wildlife, including impalas, topis, giraffes, bushbucks, hippos, hyenas, and hundreds of bird species, making it one of East Africa’s most important conservation landscapes.

By linking tourism revenues with community development, Akagera National Park demonstrates how inclusive conservation can deliver lasting benefits for both people and wildlife.