Editor, RE: “East Africa to market region as single tourist destination at London expo” (The New Times, November 4). Tourism is the highest foreign exchange earner for Rwanda today. There is a common saying, “Unity makes strength”. This great initiative by the East African Tourism Platform (EATP), to unite the Northern Corridor member states, and market the region as a “single and competitive destination”, is commendable and it is bound to result in a positive outcome for all the partner countries of the alliance. In a like manner, EATP would do very well to market the region as a single tourist destination at the forthcoming Outbound Travel Market (OTM), which is scheduled to take place in Mumbai in February 2017. It is common for an Indian tourist to share with their family and friends on return from a tour, as to how many countries were visited. This is exactly where the EATP can score more points—by marketing three countries of the EAC region as one destination. With RwandAir scheduled to commence direct flights into Mumbai over the next couple of months, this joint marketing effort would get the right boost and Remarkable Rwanda could well become the hub, not only for the EAC, but even for the entire Africa. Clarence Fernandes
