By Maniraguha Ferdinand
President Paul Kagame has announced the removal of visa requirements for African travelers wishing to explore Rwanda, during his address on Thursday, November 2nd, in Kigali at the 23rd World Travel & Tourism Council’s (WTTC) global summit hosted in the city.
Rwanda has been progressively eliminating visa requirements for African countries since 2016, as part of its strategic efforts to stimulate tourism.
“Any African can now board a flight to Rwanda without any visa fees. We must not overlook our continental market, as Africans are poised to become the future of global tourism, with our middle class expected to grow significantly in the coming decades”, Kagame stated
Over the past fifteen years, Rwanda has made substantial investments in its tourism sector, including the construction of new hotels, hosting international summits, and enhancing its national parks, among other things.
Early this year, the Rwanda Development Board (RDB) reported a notable increase in tourism revenues, with the country generating $445 million in 2022, reflecting a remarkable growth rate of 171.3 percent compared to the previous year.
Despite the enduring scars of the genocide against the Tutsis that occurred 29 years ago, President Kagame emphasized that Rwandans have chosen not to be defined by their tragic history.
“We made a collective commitment not to allow our past to dictate our future. It was at this point that we identified tourism as a pivotal driver for economic growth and employment,” he affirmed.
Rwanda’s decision to waive visa requirements for African travelers underscores the nation’s commitment to inclusivity and its determination to become a prominent destination in Africa’s thriving tourism industry.
