Rwanda Chamber of Tourism board member Nadia Keza insists golf has a place in the 2022 Rwanda Tourism Week celebrations because tourism and golf go hand in hand.

Keza, who also doubles as Chairperson of Rwanda Tour and Travel Association, was speaking during the Golf for Conservation event held Sunday, November 27 at Kigali Golf Club and Villas.

The event is part of the activities the Tourism Chamber lined up for the Rwanda Tourism Week celebrations as an occasion to highlight the role of golf in the country’s tourism conservation.

The Rwanda Tourism Week was organized by Rwanda Chamber of Tourism with adequate support from Rwanda Development Board, African Tourism Board, Sponsors RDB, African Tourism Board, Rwanda Convention Bureau, East Africa Tourism Platform, Rwanda Eco Tourism and Adventure.

Celebrated under the theme "Adapting Innovative Approaches to Boost Intra-Africa travel as a drive for Tourism Business Recovery” the special week attracts key players in the tourism and hospitality industry.

Speaking at the event, Keza stressed that Golf plays an important role in tourism as it deals with conservation of the natural environment.

"Golf as a sport is an important avenue for tourism. They move hand in hand as Golf is played in a natural environment and the conservation of the environment is a means of attracting tourists,” Keza said.

"More efforts are being put into Golf. It was chosen as part of the Rwanda Tourism Week because it attracts many people to the country and the habitat it is played in is natural,” she added.

Golf for the first time featured in activities lined up to celebrate the Rwanda Tourism Week, something which Elysee Confiance, the Tourism Chamber’s Digital Marketing Specialist, said is a good step in the right direction.

"After the coronavirus pandemic, efforts are being made to revive the tourism industry and golf, as a sport in Rwanda which attracts many foreign visitors, had to be added to the Tourism Week celebration because it is worth it,” he told Times Sport in an interview.

"This is very good for both the sports and tourism industry since golf is a game patronized by many expatriates. Golf is actually one of the many reasons people from other countries visit Rwanda,” he added.