This marks Rwanda's eighth participation in the prestigious event, represented by the Rwanda Development Board (RDB) leading the delegation of several tour operators, including Wilderness Safaris, Primates Safaris, Uber Luxe Safaris, Rwanda Eco Company Safaris, Songa Africa Tourism Company, Blue Monkey Tours, Africa Journeys, Wildlife Tours, and Palast Tours and Travel.
The primary aim of Rwanda's presence at ILTM is to highlight the country's rich and diverse tourist attractions, boosting its profile on the international stage. On the opening day alone, over 160 visitors toured Rwanda's stand, with an additional 33 visitors, including media representatives, hosted by RDB, bringing the total number of visitors to 193.
Rwanda is also set to benefit from the insights of more than 1,800 industry professionals attending the event. ILTM is renowned for connecting luxury travel buyers, sellers, and partners, and draws participants from regions such as Africa, Asia, South America, the Middle East, and China. Rwanda participated in the event last year as well.
According to the World Bank's report on Rwanda's economic performance, tourism is expected to play a key role in the country's growth trajectory.
In 2024, the tourism sector is projected to generate $660 million, up from $620 million in 2023. It is expected that Rwanda's gorilla tourism will account for $200 million of this total, while conferences and related activities will contribute $90 million.
Sports and entertainment tourism are expected to generate $110 million, with business tourism contributing $68 million. Visitors coming for family and friends are anticipated to bring in $86 million, while other types of visitors will add $46 million to the sector.
In 2023, Rwanda welcomed more than 1.4 million visitors, and projections indicate this number will double by 2029, driven in part by the expansion of RwandAir's flight routes.
Below are some photos from the evening of December 2, 2024, marking the official opening of the ILTM.
Visits to Rwanda's stand
Karirima Aimable Ngarambe
