Gov’t steps up efforts to promote cultural tourism

KIGALI - The Institute of National Museums of Rwanda (INMR), has stepped up efforts to revive the country’s cultural heritage, as a way of increasing the number of tourists to national museums. INMR embarked on the strategy after the realisation that Rwandans are unaware of the value of their culture, which makes it uninteresting even to visitors from foreign countries. “It is unfortunate that people do not recognise the value of their culture and history. We are devising means to increase their participation, and consequently register more visitors to our historical sites,” said Alphonse Umulisa, the head of INMR. The institute has also organised an official launch for the country’s cultural tourism, scheduled for June 14, at “Rukari” National Museum in Nyanza District, which is the former kings’ palace. INMR has already adopted 20 rare cows, locally known as “Inyambo” the breed that belonged to the king’s palace the time the country was a monarch. They are among the historical items that will be displayed to local and foreigners during the June 14 event. People who live around the Nyanza palace will also be relocated soon, to give way for the development of traditional houses, typical of ancient settlements in the area. Ends