Rwanda is set to exhibit at the World Travel Market 2009 (WTM), this year. The WTM is the premier global event for the international travel industry that is due to take place in London from 9th to the 12th November 2009.

According to Patrick Manzi, the Marketing Manager of the Rwanda Development Board- Tourism and Conservation Department, the annual WTM event attracts nearly 50,000 exhibitors from over 190 countries and over 2,500 media.

"It is important for our country to participate in the unique opportunity WTM provides as it gives us the ability to meet the global travel industry and work with them all under one roof,” Manzi said.

"It is an important environment to promote Rwanda as a destination of choice for tourists, especially as they prepare to travel for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa,” Manzi explained.

The WTM participation is one of several initiatives to lure the 780,000 visitors to Rwanda this year generating an estimated $195million (Rwf110.2 billion) in tourism revenue.    

The board is targeting to hit $278 million (Rwf157.1 billion) from tourism revenues by 2012.

In the Expo, Rwanda will be showcasing the vast opportunities and new experiences available to tourists visiting the country and its beautiful landscape, which includes; a new canopy walk in Nyungwe forest which will be the first of its kind in the Eastern Region, the Interpretation Centre, a high end 20 seat leisure boat facilitating tourism on lake Kivu, an extraordinary three.

During the exhibition, East African Community (EAC) member states will hold a joint cocktail party at the Rwanda stand, where EAC Ambassadors and Ministers will collaborate in a press conference to market the region with the sole aim of stimulating investment and trade in East Africa.

Remarkably, Rwanda has embraced the joint EAC marketing initiative.  The UK ranks as the second largest tourist generating market for Rwanda. RDB, Tourism and Conservation has retained the services of Race-point Group, a global PR consultancy, to advise on how to maximize their presence at WTM 2009.

Race-point together with the Rwanda Embassy in the UK will work closely with these organisations to arrange press briefings at the show to discuss new and exciting developments with travel and tourism in Rwanda. 

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