Rwanda's tourism sector revenues dipped 6 percent to $175 million in 2009 from a revised $186 million previously as a result of the global economic downturn and regional insecurity, authorities said on Tuesday.
The central African country famous for mountain gorillas and rolling green hills attracted around 700,000 visitors last year, 60,000 short of its target for the year, said Rosette Rugamba, head of tourism at Rwanda Development Board (RDB).
Tourism receipts will rise 7 percent in 2010 as the global economy bounces back and Rwanda opens up more attractions across the country including water sports on Lake Kivu and trekking in Nyungwe forest, which has a large primate population, she said.
"We can't deny that the global financial crisis did impact on our statistics in terms of visitor numbers, but also in terms of money spent," Rugamba told Reuters by telephone.
"The instability in DRC at the end of 2008 did impact our first quarter of 2009 ... On average our tour operators were about 16 percent down from what they normally generate."
Tourism numbers from Africa dropped 25 percent, 21 percent from the Americas and 7 percent from Europe, she said.
The industry, which represents Rwanda's largest foreign exchange earner, weathered the global economic storm fairly well Rugamba said, despite losing around 90 percent of a $230 million tourism investment by Dubai's embattled sovereign wealth fund Dubai World.
"We started 2009 very apprehensive," she said. "We had a huge dip in the first quarter but we've had a very surprising end of year in all sectors. Hotels were doing very well. Gorilla permits were (sold out)."
Dubai World retains a $25 million stake in the country with Gorilla Nest Hotel and Nyungwe Lodge, which is due to open in the first quarter of 2010.
RDB recently altered the way it calculates tourism receipts, revising 2008's revenues down 13 percent from $214 million as reported previously, she said.
Rugamba said RDB this week signed a 20-year joint management contract for Akagera national park with South Africa-based African Parks Network worth around $10 million in the first five years.
As part of the industry's recovery strategy, Rwanda is looking to brand itself alongside the rest of the East African Community by introducing a single visa for the region.
"We are doing a lot for marketing for east Africa as a single destination," she said.
By Hereward Holland.
Tell a friend on Facebook