Nearly Rwf5.5 billion will be shared with communities living around national parks in the 2026/27 fiscal year under the Tourism Revenue Sharing scheme.

The allocation will cover 14 districts, according to Jean-Guy Afrika, Chief Executive Officer of Rwanda Development Board (RDB).

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The Tourism Revenue Sharing programme channels part of the income generated from tourism back to communities living around protected areas.

Through the scheme, 10 per cent of national park tourism revenues is reinvested in community development in areas surrounding Rwanda’s protected areas.

Afrika announced this on August 27 during the official ceremony to launch the construction of a Smart Green Village in Kinigi Sector, Musanze District.

In 2025, national parks recorded 155,394 visits and generated $40.8 million in tourism revenues, with Volcanoes National Park accounting for $35.8 million.

Of the Rwf5.5 billion, nearly Rwf2 billion will go to the four districts surrounding Volcanoes National Park.

Musanze and Nyabihu will each receive about Rwf659.8 million, while Burera will get nearly Rwf494.8 million and Rubavu about Rwf164.9 million.

Afrika said the programme has supported nearly 1,300 community projects over the past 20 years, with more than Rwf23 billion channelled into the initiatives.

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"These projects have focused on the key needs of communities, including education, healthcare, water and improving livelihoods,” he said.

The projects have included schools, health centres, water infrastructure and livelihood initiatives aimed at ensuring that communities living near protected areas benefit directly from tourism and conservation.

Afrika said the revenue-sharing programme has also helped turn communities living around national parks into partners in environmental conservation and tourism development.

"These initiatives demonstrate that when communities benefit from environmental conservation, they become more committed to it. Tourism develops, and their livelihoods improve,” he said.

The allocation comes as the government plans to expand Volcanoes National Park by about 3,740 hectares, or 23 per cent, while establishing about 6,620 hectares of buffer zones.

The expansion is expected to create additional habitat for the growing mountain gorilla population while promoting sustainable land use and reducing pressure on the surrounding environment.

The Smart Green Village is also part of the wider Volcanoes National Park expansion project, which is planned to cost more than $49 million. The project will support 547 households with modern housing, essential services and sustainable livelihood opportunities.

The village is expected to include a school, hospital, hotel and other community facilities.