RWANDA: Golden Tulip La Palisse Kigali

Rwanda’s vibrant hospitality industry and tourism sector has received a further boost by the introduction of new global hotel chain.

Golden Tulip Hotels, Suites & Resorts, which operates a global structure and having a strong expertise in Dynamic Sales, Marketing Distribution Systems, Finance and Human Resources, has signed a management agreement with the local hotel operator Club House La Palisse to manage their new hotel.

The agreement also includes providing global benchmarked design, procurement, training and technological support.

Known as the Golden Tulip La Palisse Kigali, the hotel is situated in Nyamata district about twenty kilometers from the Kigali City Center and is worth US $ 25 million of investment and will employ around 225 staff.

Positioned as a four star development, the hotel is touted to offer elegant and luxurious facilities, high personalized services, ultra-modern amenities and a deluxe level of comfort be it for business travel or leisure travelers who demand international standards but seek authentic hospitality and local flair.

It has 188 rooms, conference facilities and dining options. It also has sports facilities such as an Olympic swimming pool, 4 tennis courts, 2 basketball courts, 2 volleyball courts and a mini football field and a mini golf court.

Speaking during the signing ceremony held at the new hotel, the Managing Director of La Palisse Management Mr. Augustin Mukenzangabo said that the company was delighted to partner with Golden Tulip Hotels, Suites and Resorts due to its strong track record of successfully running hospitality establishments globally.

Mr. Mukenzangabo explained that Rwanda’s positioning as an attractive tourist destination had risen dramatically in recent years and the quest for the country to meet the desired accommodation that matches global standards had also picked up.

Opening of the new hotel is the company’s response to this need, which he says, will serve to raise Kigali’s level of accommodation facilities available for both the business and leisure traveler.

The arrival of Golden Tulip follows a trend in which hotel investors choose to let experienced managers and globally acclaimed brand names run the properties for which they are paid a management fee.

Addressing guests at the signing ceremony on behalf of the Rwanda Development Board, Chief Tourism Officer Ambassador Yamina Karitanyi said that the Government is grateful at this milestone as this is job creation and also a vote of confidence in Rwanda’s tourism sector.

The opening of the hotel is timely as Rwanda is focusing on developing MICE tourism which requires high quality facilities and services.

The Government is currently making huge investments in MICE Infrastructures such as the convention center and the expansion of the airport in addition to private sector investment in hotels and other tourism services to meet the apparent demand.

Over the last two years a number of properties have opened up and we expect more to come in the next two years, she said adding that in total Kigali alone now has more than 2,500 rooms.

The management agreement with Golden Tulip will give the hotel a stronger foothold in securing a high market of visitors from its global network.

Rwanda’s tourism sector continued to grow in the past one year cementing its position as one of the key sources of foreign exchange for the country.

For the financial year 2013 to 2014, the sector registered a three per cent increase in the number of visitors to Rwanda.

These numbers grew from 1.14million visitors to 1.2 million visitors also accounting for an increase in revenue from $293.4m in 2013to $303m in 2014.




Tourism Observer

RWANDA: 41st Annual World Tourism Conference 28-31 August, 2017 In Kigali

During the international year of tourism, The Corporate Council on Africa (CCA) and Africa Travel Association (ATA) are proud to present the 41st Annual World Tourism Conference in Kigali, Rwanda.

In collaboration with the Rwanda Development Board, CCA and ATA designed this conference to set the tone for how tourism can be utilized as an engine for economic growth and job creation through innovative business models, new technologies and strategic partnerships.

The conference will also provide a platform to network and explore new tourism markets and products including the promotion and preservation of Africa’s rich cultural heritage and wildlife.

JOIN US TO:

Identify Potential Partners and strengthen existing relationships

Market Your Brand and generate new business leads

Meet Key Stakeholders from the continent’s travel and tourism industry

Discover Innovative Models transforming African tourism

Take Part in Discussions focused on Africa’s tourism market development

Explore Opportunities for investment along the tourism and hospitality value chain

Experience different African destinations and grow your travel services and packages

Engage with government leaders and initiate public-private Partnership discussions

WHO SHOULD ATTEND:

Airlines and Logistics Managers

Destination Marketing Professionals

Hotels, Hoteliers and Lodging Establishment Officers

Infrastructure Company Representatives

Investors and Financiers

Marketers and Trend/Research Specialist

National, Regional & City Tourist Officers

Students & Young Professionals

Tour Operators and Travel Agents

Travel Technology Specialists

Travel

​Airlines - Africa Travel Association have partnered with a number of airlines to provide discounted travel to Kigali.

Airfare discounts can be found here: http://conference.africatravelassociation.org/airline-partners.html

Hotels - Please visit the conference Housing page to view accommodation options and step by step instructions to reserve to make reservations via MegaReservations.

Visa:

Travelers arriving from any of the following countries are allowed into Rwanda without a visa and may stay up to 90 days:
Hong Kong, Philippines, Mauritius, Singapore and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

EAC Partner states citizens’ shall be issued with 6 months visitors pass (renewable) upon arrival with no fee.

Nationals of Australia, Germany, Israel, New Zealand, Republic of South Africa, Sweden, United Kingdom, and United States of America will be issued with entry visa valid for a period up to 30 days and pay for a visa ($30) upon arrival without prior application.

For more information please visit the Rwandan immigration page: http://www.migration.gov.rw/


Vaccines:

There is only one required vaccine for traveling into Rwanda. Please make an appointment with your doctor to obtain a yellow fever vaccine as well as to discuss your options for malaria medications.

You may also wish to check the CDC website for more information: http://www.CDC.go.

Africa Travel Association
A Division of Corporate Council on Africa
Annual World Tourism Conference – Kigali, Rwanda
28-31 August 2017
Agenda
(The agenda below is subject to change.)

MONDAY, AUGUST 28, 2017

7:00 am – 5:00 pm | Registration

8:00 am – 5:00 pm | Site Visits

1:00 pm – 5:00 pm | Professional Development & Capacity Building

2:00pm - 5:00 pm | Special Sessions for Tourism Boards & Authorities

2:45 pm – 4:00 pm | Council of Tourism Ministers (By Invitation Only)

6:30 pm – 8:00 pm | Reception


TUESDAY, AUGUST 29, 2017

7:30 am – 5:00 pm | Registration/Exhibit hall Open

9:00 am – 9:45 pm | Opening Ceremony

Welcome Remarks

Keynote Address

Plenary: 10:00 am -11:30 am | Unlocking Africa’s Tourism Potential
What are the challenges and opportunities to unlocking the sector’s economic potential across different regions on the continent?

11:30 am -11:45 am | Coffee Break

Breakout: 11:45 am -1:00 pm | The Evolution of Online Travel
In today’s globally digital world, how do companies and countries put themselves on the online map?
How is online booking changing tourism and trends in the region? How can companies adapt and
take advantage of the rise in online booking, mobile payments etc.?

Breakout: 11:45 am -1:00 pm | Financing Tourism Development
Countries such as Nigeria, Kenya and Morocco have experienced continued economic growth, creating demand from institutional investors as well as major tourism and hospitality brands that see expansion into the region as a source of future growth. This panel will examine how countries are positioning themselves to attract private sector investment in the tourism sector; what alternative sources of funding are available for private sector investors; and how companies and governments can harness funding for human resource development, transportation infrastructure, real estate development and more.

1:00 pm – 2:00 pm | Lunch

Plenary 2:00 pm – 3:15 pm | On Location! Africa in the Movies
Discussion with movie production professionals around selecting movie locations in Africa; experiences and challenges; what countries need to do to package/position themselves for location consideration.

Breakout: 3:20 pm – 4:35 pm | The Business of Conservation
As demand for new and sustainable tourism investment continues to rise, there is also increasing awareness of the need to conserve the natural, social and cultural assets of destinations. A healthy environment upholds the competitive advantage of a destination. Panelists will examine opportunities in conservation investment and how principles of sustainable investment are being applied across capital markets. (Safaris, eco-tourism, biodiversity).

Breakout: 3:20 pm – 4:35 pm | Safety and Risk Management in Tourism
What are African governments’ approach to raising security measures to increase tourism? How do companies protect their guests and the industry from safety threats? How do they protect customers, staff, reputation and assets? How do destinations and companies manage this risk to their brand and reputation?

Private Roundtable: 3:20 pm – 4:35 pm | (Tourism Boards)

Roundtable: 4:50 pm – 5:50 pm | Spotlight on East Africa


WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 30, 2017

7:30 am – 5:00 pm | Registration/Exhibit hall Open

8:00 am – 9:00 am | Annual ATA Membership Meeting

Plenary: 9:00 am – 10:30 am | Connecting the Continent: The Infrastructure of Tourism
What significant investments are being made in logistics, transportation and real estate? On the government side, what policies (open skies, visa) are being made to support private sector efforts and tourism infrastructure development?

Special Presentation: 10:30 am - 10:40 am

10:40 am – 11:00 am | Coffee Break

Breakout: 11:00 am – 12:15 pm | The Business Traveler
Business travel spending is expected to grow by 2.1% in 2016 to USD$12.6 billion, and rise by 3.6% to USD $18 billion in 2026. Business tourists are less cost-sensitive than leisure tourists, spending on average twice as much per day. Their purchase decisions are influenced primarily by their ability to use time efficiently within business travel schedules. How can destinations attract business travelers? What are the competitive trends and how can countries meet business travelers’ needs for both efficiency and relaxation?

Breakout: 11:00 am – 12:15 pm | Bridging the Hospitality Skills Gap
Tourism and hospitality education is key in fueling the growth of the Tourism sector in Africa. Currently, the sector faces a major skills gap in business management and operations and customer service. How are schools partnering with the private sector to ensure a well-trained hospitality workforce? How are some major players in the industry utilizing in-house training to bridge the gap? How can African governments create an enabling environment for strengthening the workforce in the tourism industry by setting high standards for the industry?

Special Presentation: 12:15 pm – 1:15 pm

1:00 pm – 2:00 pm | Lunch

Breakout: 2:00 pm – 3:15 pm | Education: A Sizeable Market for Tourism
Educational tourism is one of the fastest growing areas of the travel and tourism and one that is too often overlooked by tourism professionals and marketers is “educational tourism.” Often educational tourism is called by other names, such as career enhancement, studying abroad, job development or self-actualization experiences. In India, education tourism accounts for 1/3 of its total revenue. How are African countries and universities positioning themselves to attract consumers in higher education?

Breakout: 2:00 pm – 3:15 pm | Lifestyle Tourism: Leveraging Africa’s Diversity
Outside of traditional tour packages, what can countries offer to increase traffic? How can African destinations attract music festivals, culinary festivals, fashion events and Diaspora travel?

Roundtable: 3:30pm – 4:45 pm | Spotlight on Southern Africa

6:00 pm – 8:00 pm | Seated Dinner


THURSDAY, AUGUST 31, 2017

7:30 am – 5:00 pm | Registration/Exhibit hall Open

Plenary: 9:00 am – 10:30 am | Marketing Africa
Panelists will share best practices on how to sell Africa to foreign markets. What are the mechanisms needed to increase tourism in various regions on the continent? How do you fund such efforts? Plenary will include new media voices including digital influencers.

10:30 am – 11:00 am | Coffee Break

Breakout: 11:00 am – 12:15 pm | Business Models Transforming the Tourism Industry
How are companies and entrepreneur’s new business models shaping the future of tourism on the continent and worldwide?

Roundtable: 11:00 am – 12:15 pm | Spotlight on North Africa

Closing Luncheon: 12:15 pm – 2:00 pm | Destination Rwanda
Facilitated by: Rwanda Development Board

Closing Remarks

RWANDA: RwandAir To Commence Kigali To London Flights On 26th May 2017

RwandAir will launch the first non-stop flight from the UK to Rwanda, one of the fastest growing tourism destinations in Africa, on May 26th.

Operating three times a week from London Gatwick to the Rwandan capital Kigali, the service offers easy access for UK passengers.

The flights, on a new Airbus A330-200, will offer travellers Business, Premium Economy and Economy cabins three times a week, on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays.

The flight time is eight hours 40 minutes.

Passengers travelling on the new RwandAir service in Business Class will be able to take advantage of fully-flat beds and convenient overnight flights.

British travellers are among the top five nationalities to visit Rwanda, which welcomed 1.3 million people last year.

They’re attracted by the incredible scenery, the opportunity for a unique experience visiting mountain gorillas and big game safari.

The recent arrival of black rhinos in the country means that Rwanda is now offering one of the best safari experiences in Africa.

Travellers can explore Rwanda’s diverse ecosystems in its three national parks.

Volcanoes National Park, along the Congo border, is famed for its mountain gorillas but also home to the endangered golden monkey.

RwandAir’s new Airbus 330 which will operate the London Gatwick to Kigali service

The chief tourism officer at the Rwanda Development Board, Belise Kariza, commented: “Rwanda has seen a transformation in recent years and is now becoming one of the most sought-after destinations for premium travellers.

With the new non-stop RwandAir flights to Kigali, and the opening of several premium lodges, Rwanda will be making a big impact as a must-visit country.” 


The newly opened Kigali Convention Centre is also driving the transformation of Kigali into a hub for Meetings, Incentive Conferences and Exhibitions.

Rwanda has been named the third best MICE destination in Africa and will also host the World Travel Awards Africa Gala Ceremony in October.

Meanwhile,the latest G650 has taken off from Savannah, Georgia, and headed to the Chinese coastal city of Tianjin to join the fleet of Deer Jet.

This G650 becomes the first private jet of its class registered in mainland China.

Frank Fang, vice president of Deer Jet, said: “We are very honoured to take over the management and operation of the very first G650 registered in China.

“To date, Deer Jet owns three licences to operate a fleet of 90 aircraft worldwide, with two thirds of the jets as managed fleet.

“This new addition demonstrates Deer Jet’s unparalleled 22-years of safety records and operational excellence, in recognition for the company’s global operations capabilities.

“Once again, Deer Jet built a milestone for China’s and the global business aviation industry.

“We created the first private jet company of China, operated the first G450 and G550 in China, and became the first company to operate ultra-long range BBJ and ACJ series in China.

“And most recently, we added to our managed fleet the world’s first BBJ 787.”

The addition of the new G650 marks the start of Deer Jet’s 2017 ambitious plan to further expand its managed fleet.

Already ten more G650/G650ER series are expected to join Deer Jet’s fleet in the near future.

RWANDA: Rwanda Receives 10 Black Rhinos To Receive 10 More Soon

Ten black rhinos arrived in Rwanda from South Africa as part of conservation efforts to reintroduce the endangered species to the Akagera National Park.

The rhinos landed at the Kigali International Airport on Tuesday, May 2, with another ten expected next week, according to the Akagera park management.

The rhino’s return to this country is a testament to Rwanda’s extraordinary commitment to conservation and is another milestone in the restoration of Akagera’s natural diversity,said Peter Fearnhead, the chief executive officer of African Parks, a conservation non-profit that manages Rwandan parks.

The Eastern black rhinos have been translocated to Rwanda from South Africa’s Thaba Tholo Game Ranch.

The last recorded sighting of the large herbivore in Rwanda was a decade ago after increased poaching led to declining numbers and thereafter its extinction.

According to the Rwanda Development Board, Akagera park had about 50 black rhinos but “their numbers declined under the pressure of wide-scale poaching until the last confirmed sighting of the species in 2007”.

The return of the rhino comes nearly two years after Rwanda successfully reintroduced lions in the Akagera park. In July 2015, seven lions were relocated from South Africa to the park and their numbers have since grown to 17, according to the park’s management.

The Howard G. Buffett Foundation, the People's Postcode Lottery and the Dutch government supported the rhinos reintroduction.

Several years ago, as we were struggling to have success combating rhino poaching in other parts of Africa, I made a commitment to President Paul Kagame that we would support the reintroduction of rhinos in Rwanda because we knew this country would protect them, said Howard G. Buffett, chairman and CEO of the Howard G. Buffett Foundation.

“The total relocation operation cost in excess of $2 million” said Sarah Hall, the tourism and marketing manager at Akagera National Park.

The return of the rhinos to Rwanda's Akagera National Park opens a new chapter in our conservation journey and we are grateful to all our partners who contributed to this achievement, said Clare Akamanzi, Rwanda Development Board's CEO.

With the reintroduction of the rhino, the Akagera park has now reclaimed the Big Five status – having the lion, elephant, buffalo, leopard and the rhino.

Rwanda now hopes this will boost the country’s tourism sector, which is its biggest foreign exchange earner.

African Parks indicates that of the twenty rhinos to be brought to Rwanda, about half are female.

RWANDA: Tourists Visit National Parks More Than The Museum

Despite having registered steady progress in recent years, the Institute of National Museums of Rwanda (INNMR) still faces the persistent challenge of failure in attracting more clients.

Ambassador Robert Masozera the new director general finds some crucial issues which still stand in the way of making the institute profitable.

Mr Masozera replaces Alphonse Umulisa, who was sacked in May for alleged mismanagement of the office. “We can now confidently point out what we hope can boost this institution in various areas, which await him,” explains Dr Ivan Twagirashema, a board of director.

The museum is on track having met its performance contracts for the previous year. The institute managed to reach 98 per cent consumption of its previous year’s budget compared with the previous years where it only reached between 80 to 85 per cent according to Isidore Ndikumana, the director of Cultural Tourism Promotion Unit, who has been the acting director general since May this year.

The new director general comes at a time when the institute is steadily growing from the only ethnographic museums in Huye, which was initiated in 1989 to seven established museums and over 500 other discovered heritage sites, which undergo development each year, “Most of them aren’t protected enough to generate income, so the museum is developing them each year,” Mr Ndikumana explains.

National Parks have dominated the tourism sector attracting many tourists at the expense of cultural tourism which has now become one of the government’s long-term projects in tourism development.

Rwanda’s tourism product diversification agenda which has the potential to improve the annual foreign revenue generated by tourism does not seem to be well implemented considering the fact that some sectors aren’t vibrant when it comes to income generation.

According to 2014-2015 data, nature tourism which incorporates natural parks and others, brings in approximately Rwf25.3 billion annually compared with the cultural tourism which generates Rwf177 million, of which Rwf200 million is generated by museums.

“Natural tourism exceeds cultural tourism by far, people visit natural parks much more than cultural sites. But about 164 people visit museums annually, where 70 per cent are locals and 30 per cent foreigners. This number, we believe can be raised,” explains Ambassador Masozera.

Mr Ndikumana too admits how there is a need for a drive among both the locals and foreigners towards embracing cultural tourism.

“Cultural tourism needs to be well incorporated into the general tourism package so that even when foreigners come, they can be guided towards museums so as to raise and balance the tourism revenue,” he explains.

“We need to put much emphasis on marketing. But with the little we hold, we can further implement a marketing strategy to promote our museums through trade fair within and out of the country so as to increase our audience,” Mr Ndikumana urges.

The museum recently joined hands with the National Capacity Building Secretariat to work on measures of funding the museum to enable it get an international consultant to develop a strategic plan for marketing the museums at an international level.

This consultant will also help to a study through evaluation and design a budget to enable museums to invest for further development, which is also to include the development of more heritage sites into active museum centres.

Among the interventions suggested, the museums institute in partnership with Rwanda Development Board (RDB) will start a sensitisation campaign to boost cultural tourism with close focus to museums according to Masozera.

Domestic Tourism ‘Tembera U Rwanda’

Rwanda Development Board today announced the launch of the 'Tembera U Rwanda' campaign, aimed at motivating Rwandans to explore their own country and put the spotlight on domestic travel. The launch will take place today, Friday, 30th September and the activities will run up to 01st October with a tour through the cultural heritage corridor with stop overs at different sites from Kigali to Huye District.

On the itinerary of the launch, several activities will be organized along the cultural corridor to give participants a glimpse into Rwanda’s rich cultural history. These include storytelling at Ijuru rya Kamonyi in Kamonyi District, Kankazi site, Urutare rwa Kamegeri in Ruhango District, historic tours of Nyagakecuru and Ibisi bya Huye. The tour will conclude with live cultural entertainment by the renowned all-female drumming troupe Ingoma Nshya atop Mount Huye.

Speaking at the press conference, the Chief Tourism Officer of RDB, Belise Kariza said: 'The domestic tourism campaign is our call to residents to be active participants in the growth of the tourism sector by consuming local products and most importantly by contributing to the country’s brand. I appeal to the private sector to provide both tour packages and special accommodation rates for the domestic market especially at this time'.

Tembera U Rwanda phase 2 will then roll out over a period of 3 months from October to December 2016. This campaign will characterized by bus trips for lucky trivia winners who will have a chance to travel free of charge to attraction sites around Rwanda. For the general public, participation will be on a first come, first served basis and registration will be done through the tourism reservations and sales offices around the country.

Kariza added that: 'Rwanda is one of the most acclaimed destinations in Africa and it should be appreciated by its residents. With reduced rates for Rwandans and road access to every tourism destination, we invite Rwandans to bear witness to the remarkable experience we sell to the international market'.

She concluded that domestic tourism is a worthwhile investment without regret and the opportunity to discover the country as a tourist is one that should be accessible to all. This supports the theme of this year’s World Tourism Day ‘Tourism for All: Promoting Universal Accessibility’; a day observed annually on 27th September in recognition of tourism’s contribution towards economic growth. Rwanda will commemorate the holiday in tandem with the launch of the domestic tourism campaign.

The Rwanda Development Board acknowledged support from partners namely the Southern Province, Kamonyi, Ruhango, Muhanga, Nyanza and Huye Districts; the Mountain Climbers Club, the Tourism Chamber, the Guides Association, local tour operators and transport companies that are partnering in this initiative.

RWANDA: $413 Bugusera Airport Opening December 2018

Construction of the highly anticipated Bugesera International Airport is scheduled to start in June next year, following the signing of an agreement between the government and Mota Engil Engenharia e Construcao Africa, a Portuguese firm in sectors of civil construction, port operations and logistics.

The two parties signed the agreement last evening at the Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs.

The agreement was signed between the recently formed Aviation Travel and Logistics Holdings Limited (ATL) -on behalf of the government- and Manuel Mota, the Chief Executive of the firm.

The pact will see Mota Engil Africa finance and construct the airport with a completion date of December 2018 and later run the facility’s operations for the next 25 years with option to extend by 15 years.

This means that the government will not incur costs to put up the facility while their new partner will recoup their investment by running operations.
Mota said that the first phase which is expected to deliver a facility of international standards with a capacity of about 1.7 M passengers per year will incur an investment of USD 418M.

Upon completion of the first phase in December 2018, Mota said that they will commence further expansion which will increase the airport’s capacity to 4.5 million passengers per year, costing and additional USD 400M bringing the total cost to USD 818M.
Aware of the tight deadline to complete the facility of about 28 months, Mota termed it as a ‘fast-track project.’

“The ground breaking will be in June next years as it awaits securing finance but before that we will be having starting some preparatory works in partnership with the government,” Mota said.

The Minister for Infrastructure James Musoni empasised the urgency for the new, modern and large facility that can accommodate the growing air traffic as Rwanda was developing into a conference and business hub.

“More than ever, we need an airport that can match the growth,” Musoni said.
He expressed confidence in the firm saying they had performed well in a project to expand the Kigali International Airport.

He allayed fears that the airport project was could experience delay completion as was experienced during the construction of the Kigali Convention Centre saying that offered lessons to the government on the undertaking of large projects.

The Minister for Finance and Economic Planning, Claver Gatete said that the preference of the Public Private Partnership model as opposed to borrowing was to speed up the development and to increase its profitability.

“Usually the government has been investing heavily from the money from taxes, loans and grants. But then we have reached a level we need to develop faster. Whenever we do business in joint venture together with the private sector, we can achieve much more with less. That is how we can grow faster. For the projects that are more income generating and are profitable, we always want to give a chance to the private sector,” Gatete said.

He said that by working closely with the private sector, the government gives comfort to the investors on the viability of the project.

He confirmed that much of the expropriation of people living in the area set aside for the airport had been done and the few remaining people were in the process of being compensated.

The government confirmed that the process was substantially complete with about 10 households who had trouble with their documentation still pending.

13 people among the group compensated were said to have incomplete bank accounts causing their payments to bounce back to the government accounts however, their money had been moved to the district accounts awaiting the readiness of their accounts.

The investment which was termed by the Rwanda Development Board Chief Executive Francis Gatare as a vote of confidence in the economy and the development of the country is largely expected to boost the growth of the aviation industry.

Jean Paul Nyirubutama, the acting Chief Executive of the recently formed Aviation Travel and Logistics Holdings Limited (ATL) allayed fears that the airline business across the country was slowing down saying that it was just a temporary headwind largely brought about by the economic situations.

“The industry across the continent might be going through headwinds which are just temporary induce by the general economic situation in Africa, but all in all airlines in African are set to growing given that the continent is the next frontier when it comes to aviation and the growth rate is high enough to accommodate carriers in Africa,” Nyirubutama said.

He said that the national carrier, RwandAir was positioning itself for growth by diversifying the market is serves and exploiting underserved areas in Africa.

Today, RwandAir will make its inaugural flight to Benin as part of the diversification effort.

Aviation Travel and Logistics Holdings Limited (ATL) is a holding company recently approved by cabinet to oversee management of RwandAir, Airports and Akagera Aviation training facilities.

NIGERIA: All Is Set For "Akwaaba" Travel Exhibition Lagos, 22 Nov 2015

West Africa's premier travel market and tourism trade show, held annually in Lagos, is about to kick off this weekend at the Eko Hotel & Suites on Victoria Island in Lagos.Alongside this year is Africa’s largest street party carnival, Carnival Calabar is unveiling its 2015 theme in Lagos on Sunday 22nd November which happens to be the opening day of the biggest travel exhibition in West-Africa-Akwaaba.

At the unveiling, Akwaaba delegates from all over the world will have a taste of what to expect in Calabar come December. The carnival unveiling in Lagos will be hosted by the Executive Governor of Cross-River state-Prof. Ben Ayade supported by Sen. Florence Ita-Giwa- Chairman Carnival Calabar Band Associations. The event will bring delegates from all over the world to witness the unveiling which is part of the vision of the Governor to internationalize the peoples Carnival.

With the large numbers of international visitors to Akwaaba 2015, Akwaaba has chosen First Business Logistics Ltd a subsidiary of Sky Blue Services Nigeria to offer visitors a better travel and logistics experience when they touch down at the Lagos Airports. Skyblue will handle airport protocol for international visitors arriving Muritala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos for this year’s event.

First Business Logistics Ltd, a travel and aviation services solution provider offers a wide range of services including flight ticket & Hotel Reservation, Travel Concierge/protocol and Logistics services as well as aviation services. As the D-Day approaches, top brands are scrambling for the few available spaces due to the space constraint for this year. Kenya Tourism Board, Rwanda Development Board, Rwandair, Air Maroc, Golden Tulip Hotel, First Business Logistics, Radisson Blu, Sierra Leone, Ethiopian Airlines, Whispering Palms and others have joined the list of exhibitors for Akwaaba 2015.

The Kenyans will be arriving with a cultural troupe to showcase Kenyan culture. The Atunda ENT promoted by La Campagne Tropicana Beach Resort will also be entertaining guest at Akwaaba this year. This year’s event will be held in the same venue as last year’s event which is smaller than the usual venue, so most exhibitors had to be dropped. But enough space is being provided for the 2016 edition. The 2016 signup forms will be available during the events to enable more exhibitors’ signup early and prevent last minute delays as many exhibitors could not be accommodated this year.

The Executive Governor of Sokoto state in Nigeria and the former Speaker of the Nigerian National Assembly Honorable Aminu Tambuwal will be the Chairman at the African Travel Awards and Dinner. The African Travel awards is one of the high points of the 3day Travel event and comes up on the 1st day, 22nd Nov from 7pm. He would be accompanied by the Hon. Commissioner of Commerce, Industries and Tourism, Sokoto State- Alh. Aminu Bello.

As repeat exhibitors at Akwaaba, Sokoto state would be showcasing her rich Tourism Products to both international and local audience which is what Akwaaba as a platform offers. Some of the Awards to be presented at the event include Best Hotel in Africa, Airline of the Year-Africa, Best Resort in Africa, Africa most friendly City, and Best Airport in Africa, with Waturi Wa Matu presented with the African Legend Award for her role in promoting Tourism in East-Africa. Meanwhile the DG NCAA, Capt.

Usman Mukhtar, MD, International Services of Ethiopian Airline along with the Head of IATA Middle East and Africa, will be headlining this year’s Aviation Day at the 11th Akwaaba. The International Air Transport Association (IATA), in line with its, objective to bring increased connectivity to Africa has partnered with Akwaaba to organize the Aviation day. The event will hold on the 23rd of Nov, the 2nd day of Akwaaba from 10am.

The event aims to stimulate valuable discussions by renowned industry players to address the lingering issue of connectivity in Africa. It will feature presentations of papers by notable individuals in the industry on issues concerning the sector. Adefunke Adeyemi, IATA Regional Head for Member (Airline) and External Relations for Africa and the Middle East will be sharing a recent study by IATA on connectivity in Africa at the Aviation Day.

The event is themed “National Carrier, Open Skies and Connectivity in Africa”. Managing Director, International Services, Ethiopian Airlines, Esayas Woldemariam will also be making a presentation, while the Director General, Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, Capt. Muhtar Usman will be the Chairman of the day.

The moderator for the day will be Aviation Consultant Mr Chris Aligbe.Already the President, Nigeria Association of Tour Operators, Nkereuwem Onung and the President, National Association of Nigerian Travel Agents, Alhaji Aminu Agoha have accepted to be among panel members at the event which is for Travel Trade Professionals.

Amb. Bianca Ojukwu will be cutting the tape to declare the Wedding & Spa Show open and formally opening the Akwaaba Travel Market. Bianca Ojukwu, the wife of the former Nigerian leader Chief Odumeugwu Ojukwu is also a former beauty queen who has since moved into Diplomacy, as Nigeria’s Ambassador to Spain & UNWTO. Other VIP’s lined up to declare other Sessions open at the 3day Travel Trade Event.

The Wedding show is sponsored by Dubai Tourism in partnership with Emirates and will feature over 10 countries showcasing amazing Wedding & Honeymoon destinations, Weekend Getaways and Spa Sanctuaries. Travelstart Nigeria which would be exhibiting at Akwaaba for the first time, hopes to extend its reach across Africa.

According to the Head of Communications for Travelstart Nigeria, Oluwakemi Ojo said, “We’re delighted to have the opportunity to participate in this year’s AKWAABA African Travel Market Expo, to build on our existing affiliations, acquire competitive advantage for Travelstart and stay up-to-date with latest development in the travel industry.

Also, Samsung West-Africa a leading Technology company, in its bid to increase brand visibility especially amongst Hoteliers and Resort Owners will be showcasing its Professional Displays, Hotel TV ranges, Smart Signage & IT products at Akwaaba 2015. As sponsors of the Hospitality Day event, Samsung West-Africa will be sharing with Hotel & Resort Managers how they can improve their guest experience.

According to Mr. Anu-Rotimi Agboola (Head, Samsung Enterprise Business Solution -SMART Signage & SMART Hospitality Displays) “our participation at Akwaaba is more about brand visibility and we will be giving gifts to the Top 5 Hotel Winners of the Travellers top 100 Hotels in Lagos Polls. However, these Hotels must use Hotel TVs not consumer TVs. The advantage of Hotel TVs over Consumer TVs is that they give better guest experience by allowing guests personalize their experience”.

Other Guest Speakers are Mr. Sanjo Bamgboye- Director, Current Links Systems Ltd on “Facilitating Payment Innovation in Hospitality” and Mrs. Lilian Obinna-Igwe, Country Manager Travelstart Nigeria on “Online Booking in Africa and how it works”. There will also be a panellists made up of Top Hotel GMs across Africa to deliberate on the issues raised.

The Hospitality Day at Akwaaba seeks to create a platform that would help provide knowledge about burning issues and raise Hotel standards in Africa. The Travellers top 100 Hotels in Lagos Polls winners will also be announced and receive their certificate at the event. The Wine Tasting event follows immediately after from 4pm.

Wine Tasting Event at the Hospitality Day presents an opportunity for Wine Producers from all parts of the World to Network and Market to over 50 Wine distributors from across Nigeria. It also offers wine distributors the opportunity to deal directly with wine producers eliminating the middle men. This event is open to all Hotel and Hospitality Professionals. Hospitality Day holds on the 24th Nov, 2015. Attendance is by registration. The paper ‘How to Know Your Wine’ will be anchored by Chief J.A Rowlands.

RWANDA: To Host The Africa Hotel Investment Forum (AHIF) In 2016

The Government of Rwanda through the Rwanda Development Board, will host the Africa Hotel Investment Forum (AHIF) in 2016 in Kigali. AHIF brings together the leading international hotel investors in Africa with local operators, ministers, government officials and industry experts, to discuss all aspects of hotel investment and operation in Africa.

The decision to host AHIF in Kigali underlines a clear strategy by the Government of Rwanda to attract investment in the tourism sector. Ambassador Yamina Karitanyi, Chief Tourism Officer at the Rwanda Development Board, said: “We see AHIF as an excellent platform to meet many of the most important decision makers and investors, who have the power collectively to influence investment in the hospitality industry in Africa. We are determined to build relationships and showcase Rwanda as the right place to do business and therefore we believe that hosting the event will create an opportunity for local hotel developers to forge partnerships with investors.”

In signing the agreement to bring AHIF 2016 to Kigali, all parties committed to pursuing five goals, which include:

Supporting hotel and infrastructure development within Rwanda and across Africa
Promoting Africa to the international hotel investor and operator community
Educating the hotel investment community about the tourism potential of Africa
Facilitating networking between African stakeholders and the international community
Supporting Rwanda’s ambition for growth through travel & tourism

In Africa as a whole, Travel & Tourism is seen as a highly attractive growth industry. According to the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), it is responsible for 8.1% of GDP and it is forecast to rise at 4.9% per annum until 2025.

Similarly, Rwanda’s tourism sector continues to grow positioning itself as the leading foreign earner for the country. For the financial year 2013 to 2014, the sector registered a three per cent increase in the number of visitors to Rwanda. These numbers grew from 1.14million visitors to 1.2 million visitors also accounting for an increase in revenue from $293.4m in 2013 to $303m in 2014.

In Rwanda, leisure has been a major driver of Rwanda’s tourism industry. Currently, the country is focusing on Meetings Incentives Conference and Exhibitions/Events (MICE) tourism, capitalising on safety, developed infrastructure, accessibility and new entrants in the hotel industry such as the Marriott, Radisson Blu, Radisson by Park Inn, Sheraton, Golden Tulip, Kempisnki and Zinc, amongst others. Hosting the AHIF will no doubt contribute growth of Rwanda as a leading MICE destination in the region. Later this year, Rwanda will host Interpol AGM, World Economic Forum on Africa in 2016 as well as Africa Union Summit in 2016.

Jonathan Worsley, Chairman, Bench Events, the company that organises AHIF and other top international hotel investment conferences, said: “I know of at least three hotel projects in Rwanda that came about as a consequence of a conversation at AHIF.I have every confidence that the proactive approach that is being displayed by the Rwanda Development Board will pay off, as all the major hotel chains are seeking new opportunities in Africa – and one of the most crucial issues for them is to find public sector partners that are making a serious effort to speak their language.”

By moving to a different African city every couple of years, AHIF will help to showcase high-growth destinations across the continent as a whole. Jonathan Worsley, Chairman of Bench Events concluded: “The African economic growth story is becoming well-known. At around 5% per annum, it is a multiple of developed economies and that is appealing to the international business community.”

In 2014, the event took place in Addis Ababa and attracted over 500 participants from more than 40 countries who represented over 400 companies. AHIF ‘15 will again take place in Addis, at the Sheraton hotel on 30th September – 1st October, where the number of delegates is expected to increase substantially on last year.

Several networking contacts made at AHIF have since resulted in promising new business relationships and the event attracted considerable media attention, with around a hundred reporters in attendance from major local and international news organisations.