Nyabihu District has the biggest part of Volcano National Park geographically; however residents decry slow tourism activities despite the presence of significant tourism attractions.

Among issues mentioned as those impeding this development include lack of proper infrastructure and tourism facilities such as well-developed roads, hotels, and coffee shops among others, which tend to facilitate tourists.

A number of locals who spoke to The New Times envisage potential tourism activities that could be booming but instead remain less active.

Kabatwa is one of the sectors of Nyabihu district which borders the Karisimbi Volcano.

Touring this sector commonly known for its huge production of Irish potatoes, you can observe the inadequate infrastructure, including a lack of paved roads which hinders mobility.

Théogene Niyobuhungiro, a resident of Kabatwa and tour guide, said that more needs to be done in order to boost tourism in the area, "More is needed to keep tourists coming and use the place as a gateway to the park.”

Emelence Nirere, 45, mother-of-three looks toward this potential development and hopefully, also be able to earn a living from the prospective tourism activities.

"Tourists could be coming at large and get our development boosted too. When tourists come, we get money,” she said.

38-year-old Francine Nzagirwanimana believes that once hotels and smooth roads are present, the area is likely to thrive.

What officials say

According to the Country Representative for International Gorilla Conservation Program (IGCP), Benjamin Mugabukomeye, since a big part of the Volcano National Park lies on the side of Nyabihu, a lot of gorillas are moving there looking for a large inhabiting area.

"Many gorilla families are around here. It is a big opportunity for the local residents and the district itself to benefit from that, but infrastructures are still a challenge. There should be a reception for Rwanda Development Board as a gateway for tourists in the park,” he noted.

Speaking to The New Times, Jean Claude Habanabakize, the Vice Mayor of Nyabihu District in Charge of Economic Development, unveiled that the district is working with Rwanda Development Board (RDB) to set and develop tourism destinations available in the district.

"We are still behind on infrastructures concerning hotels; there are also a lot of tourism sites that need to be known so that residents and the district benefit from them,” Habanabakize said.

"We are presently working with RDB for a tourism master plan, we seek guidance and how tourism activities can be smoothly conducted in the district,” he added.

Park expansion

According to RDB, there is a ‘Park expansion’ project which will bring transformation of lives in communities and nearby.

"It is a matter of time as we are working on improving tourism activities in the area, as we also keep wildlife conservation of the park,” Prosper Uwingeli, the Chief Warden of Volcano National Park said.

He advised residents to consider investment as well, as RDB is handling the promotion and marketing of the area.

"RDB has done its promotion and marketing since the national park has been expanded where tourists are now coming in Musanze, Nyabihu and Rubavu. It is for them to invest,” he noted.

Uwingeli further explained that, "in future, based on tourism activities being established, of course more infrastructures will happen in Nyabihu District.”

Presently, there are over 50 community cooperatives at the park that directly benefit from it, according to RDB.

However, there are still challenges which hinder their development such as water scarcity, human wildlife conflict caused by monkeys, buffalos, among other issues.

"All these issues need a long term solution,” Uwingeli said.

With the expansion of the Volcano National park, model villages and housing are some of components expected to change the area’s livelihood