I have been articulating the importance of specific sectoral policies which we need to adopt in order to create an inclusive economy where youths are key drivers of future growth. Any country which marginalises its youth will not grow to its full potential. Rwanda’s youths (18 to 35 years) make up 65 per cent of the population and this future force cannot be ignored but must be treated as a competitive advantage. Last week I spoke about youth in agriculture, and this week, I want to share my ideas on how we can expedite youth participation in the tourism sector.

Tourism continues to be one of the fastest-growing and most dynamic sectors of Africa’s economy with the potential to create jobs, boost inclusive economic growth across the continent, and reduce poverty. It is said that most investors are tourists first, so it is critical for the country's foreign investment drive to attract tourists to the country who have a positive experience while there. The potential of tourism of any country can be unlocked through a comprehensive and holistic approach and ordinary citizens need to appreciate and experience its benefits so that they too can promote the image of the country whenever they may get the opportunity to do so.

Rwanda’s National Institute of Statistics (NISR), recently announced economic growth for 2022 at 8.2 per cent. According to the NISR, the sources of this growth were services, which grew by 47 per cent, agriculture by 25 per cent and industry, which grew by 20 per cent. A further drill down shows that in the services sector, hotel and restaurant services increased by 87 per cent, transportation activities increased by 22 per cent, technology and communication services by 20 percent, education by 17 per cent, and tourism and retail by 14 per cent. The direct and indirect socio economic linkages and benefits of tourism cannot be debated.

Much effort continues to be put into this sector (Visit Rwanda) and there is no doubt that the efforts are producing intended results. It is very important to ensure that whatever growth is experienced has a positive social impact to the benefit of citizens. A focus on the development of young people as a major force in the development of sustainable tourism is essential and this can only benefit the economic, social, cultural and environmental progress. What will be key, is the attitude of the local youths towards participating in a sustainable tourism value chain and the support they are given. Added to this, the participation of local communities in the tourism value chain is also critical in order to broaden sustainable incomes especially in rural areas where there are normally underutilised tourism assets.

It is a fact that tourism is a labour intensive industry, requiring both skilled and unskilled labour. Besides direct contributions to employment, the industry also has a positive impact on livelihoods of local communities in tourism destinations. In recent years, studies have shown a growing trend in the expansion of the benefits of tourism beyond the confines of traditional tourist attraction sites to local communities. Youth can therefore be the beneficiaries of a targeted youth in tourism policy which seeks to involve youth at all levels of the sector.

According to the African Development Bank, youth unemployment and underemployment constitute central challenges to Africa’s development. If youth unemployment rates remain unchanged in Africa, nearly 50% of youth – excluding students – will be unemployed, discouraged, or economically inactive by 2025. This poses a serious danger for Africa.

The typical barriers to entry for youths in this sector need to be removed and among others, they typically include: