Rwanda’s tourism industry raked in $647 million (approx. Rwf923billion) revenue in 2024, representing a slight increase of 4.3 percent compared to 2023, according to an annual Rwanda Development Board (RDB) report. ALSO READ: Rwanda’s tourism revenue hit $620 million in 2023 The recorded tourism growth was buoyed by gorilla tourism, which generated $200 million in revenue, a 27 percent increase, whereas education and visiting friends and relatives (VFR) segments rose by 16 percent and five percent, respectively. The report highlight that a total of 95 tourism entities were licensed in 2024, and the total number of visitors from across the world was more than 1.3 million travellers, the majority from the East Africa Community. Jean Guy Afrique, the CEO of RDB, said the target is to generate tourism revenues exceeding $700 million in 2025 by showcasing Rwanda as a leading global destination for leisure, wildlife conservation, and international events. “In line with our goal of elevating Rwanda's international profile, we eagerly anticipate hosting landmark events such as the 20th Kwita Izina celebration and the 2025 UCI Road World Championships, both set to spotlight Rwanda’s hospitality and tourism sectors on the global stage.” The 20th celebration of Kwita Izina, in which 22 mountain gorillas born in the last 12 months were to be named, was postponed after the initial date in September found the country battling Marburg virus outbreak, which was successfully defeated. ALSO READ: It’s time to diversify our tourism offerings Afrique also noted that in efforts to implement transformative conservation initiatives, the country will see the translocation of 70 white rhinoceroses to Akagera National Park. Revenue from national parks Rwanda’s national parks experienced growth with an increase in visitor numbers of 10.7 percent reaching 138,000 visitors which contributed to 8.5 percent increase in revenues up to $38.8 million. The growth was mainly attributed to a surge of 20 percent in visitors to Nyungwe National Park, followed by 11.3 percent in Volcanoes National Park, and 6.8 percent in Akagera National Park. The report indicates that domestic tourism revenue remained stable at $793,000 with local visits climbing to 54,800. Through the tourism revenue sharing program, RDB implemented 105 community projects worth more than Rwf3.2 billion in sectors spanning agriculture, infrastructure, equipment, Human-Wildlife Conflict Management, and enterprise. ALSO READ: Rwanda introduces ‘tourism levy’ to boost investments In 2024, Rwanda also introduced new tourism offerings including Virunga Mountain Spirit Agro-Tourism Experience with a vodka distillery in Kinigi, Musanze District, Bisate Reserve –a high-end eco-tourism facility featuring four villas, and an upgraded Karenge Camp –a bush camp located in Akagera National Park. Munazi Lodge, a new eco-lodge, is currently under construction in Nyungwe National Park while a new 1,850-meter-long zipline being developed in Nyungwe National Park, is expected to open in March. Developments around the Volcanoes National Park expansion project saw the country secure funding from the World Bank to construct a smart green village on 50 hectares of land to relocate 510 households during the first phase. This project aims to expand the park by 3,740 hectares, establish a 6,000-hectare buffer zone, and build smart green villages for 3,400 households to enhance income and ensure livelihood security for local populations. MICE industry grows to Rwf84 billion Despite the global challenges, the Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions (MICE) industry generated $84.8 million in revenue, a decrease from $95 million recorded in 2023. ALSO READ: Can Rwanda’s private sector drive MICE tourism mix? Throughout the year, the report indicates, Rwanda hosted 115 high-profile events, welcoming 52,315 delegates. It hosted several major international events including the Africa CEO Forum, BAL Playoffs and Finals, and FIA Awards, which were held in Africa for the first time in the event’s 120-year history. Earlier this year, Celestin Makuza, the chief executive at Events Factory Rwanda, a local events management company, told The New Times that despite Marburg virus disease that hit towards the end of 2024, it was a fairly productive year as evidenced by the frequency of events that were hosted in Rwanda. “We see a rebound this year [2025] and most of the events that were supposed to take place during that time were postponed to this year. We see a lot of interest for our destination this year, and we hope the trend continues,” he said. Rwanda has consistently ranked among the top most popular destinations for international business conferences in Africa. The International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) has ranked Kigali the second in Africa multiple times.
