Rwanda set to exhibit at WTM for first time

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Rwanda set to exhibit at WTM for first time

Report by LINSEYMcNEILL

Rwanda will be exhibiting at World Travel Market for the first time, where it will be promoting what it claims are unique attractions in East Africa.

Hilary Byamugisha, first secretary at the Rwanda Embassy in London, said the country had decided to promote its tourism industry to an international market following six years of political stability.

“We were in a state of political turmoil up to and including 1994 but over the past few years we have reconstructed our infrastructure and our economy,” said Byamugisha. “Now we are trying to project an image of our tourism industry to the world.”

Rwanda will be focusing on promoting excursions to see gorillas and hoping to attract the attention of special-interest operators and adventure tour specialists.

“We will have information on tourist attractions, such as our national parks,” said Byamugisha.

Rwanda, which is sandwiched between Tanzania, Uganda, Zaire and Burundi, currently attracts around 200 visitors a year from the UK.

“Although this figure is very low, it is actually a lot more than we were getting a couple of years ago but obviously we would like to get more tourists,” added Byamugisha.

Apart from the perception of Rwanda as a dangerous place to visit, another difficulty the country has in attracting British holidaymakers is the absence of direct flights from the UK.

Visitors have to fly either via Brussels or another destination in East Africa.

“There are, however, a lot of flights from Ethiopia and Kenya to our capital Kigali, so we don’t see this as too much of a problem,” said Byamugisha.

&#42 The South Pacific islands of Fiji and Tahiti will be taking separate stands at WTM.

Both Fiji and Tahiti have had a presence at WTM in the past, but previously exhibited with the South Pacific Tourism Organisation which has pulled out of the show this year.

The SPTO has decided to set up a mini South Pacific exhibition in a nearby pub, where it will have stalls representing all the main islands.

“Fiji and Tahiti have decided that it was important to have a presence at Earl’s Court,” said an SPTO spokesman.

Libya will also be exhibiting for the first time at the show this year.

Animal magic: Rwanda will promote its gorilla excursions