www.rwandan-flyer.com

24/02/2014

Sakineh Tevana

Four Rwandan tour operators attended a week-long annual Dutch tourism fair in the city of Utrecht where they marketed the country’s tourism attractions.

Sunrise Eco-tours, Amahoro Tours, Access Rwanda Safaris and Mercator Assistance travelled to the European country, under advise of the Rwanda Development Board with the aim of marketing the East African country to potential tourists.

The Vakantiebeurs event, Netherlands’ biggest and most important tourism exhibition, attracted at least 120,000 visitors and 1,600 exhibitors from about 160 countries. More than 14,000 travel and media professionals also attended.

According to Guillaume Kavaruganda, a senior official at the Rwandan Embassy in Netherlands, visitors at the fair were entertained by Rwandan dancers and thereafter enjoyed freshly brewed Rwandan coffee.

“Since Rwanda started exhibiting, the number of Dutch tourists to Rwanda increased six fold in the past six years.  This is the reason why KLM has started to fly five times a week to Kigali,” added Guillaume Kavaruganda.

“From January to September 2013, there was a remarkable growth by 22 per cent of Dutch visitors to Rwanda. The daily flights of KLM between Amsterdam and Kigali also increased. Turkish Airlines also opened its route to Rwanda,” Kavaruganda said.

The event was co-sponsored by Inholland University and Turkish Airlines to provide Dutch tour operators, travel agents and journalists with comprehensive information about unique tourism opportunities in Rwanda.

Rare Mountain Gorillas and beautiful canopy walk in Nyungwe Park, the Kwita Izina (annual gorilla naming ceremony), the Congo Nile Trail, and the newly launched Musanze Caves are among Rwanda’s tourism products.

SOURCE : SLEEP OUT.COM : HERE