“World Tourism Day is an opportunity to reflect on the importance of tourism to global well-being. As we travel, let us engage with other cultures and celebrate human diversity. On this observance, let us recognise tourism as a force for a more tolerant, open and united world.” UN Sectary General Ban Ki-moon.
27th September of every year, the world marks the world’s tourism day. This year’s theme is “The Role of Tourism Linking Together the Cultures of the World through Travel”.
Rwanda will also be celebrating this day but under a different theme; “Tourism begins with you”, Rica Rwigamba, Head of Tourism and Conservation at RDB told igihe.com.
“The 2011 WTD events in Rwanda will focus on domestic tourism, bringing the country’s attractions home to the people of Rwanda to learn more about the natural attractions found across the Land of a Thousand Hills through the local theme ‘Tourism Begins with you’ besides the global theme Tourism Linking Cultures,” Rwigamba explained.
Rwigamba told igihe.com that efforts are being engineered to encourage Rwandans to take part in tourism.
Statistics show that only 23% of the Rwandan population is involved in tourism while 77% are foreigners.
In a bid to market tourist venues in Rwanda, Rwanda (RDB) is hosting 24 winners of a radio quiz on Radio Rwanda and Contact FM, undertaken ahead of the World Tourism Day celebrations, to a guided- all inclusive field trip to Nyungwe National Park.
The winners will have an opportunity to appreciate the conservation efforts undertaken and see the tourism potential of the canopy walk and the various hikes starting off from the visitor center.
Tourism is among the top sectors in Rwanda attracting foreign currency.
In 2010 the sector earned US$200 million (Frw120 billion). Rwigamba expressed positive hopes for increased in follows of foreign currency given that the tourism sector so far has increased its revenue by 28% this year.
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