Dubai investit dans le Tourisme Rwandais
08/10/07
UTG-Reporter- KIGALI, RWANDA
Rwanda’s tourism industry has just received a multi-million dollar boost it has been looking for in a long time.
The United Arab Emirates one of the transporters in the country and the government of Rwanda last week signed an agreement under which the former will develop eight tourism facilities in the country worth $230m.The areas of investments include hotels, a golf course, a high-end eco-lodge and rehabilitation of the famous Akagera Game lodge.
Dubai World, the Emirates holdings company said in a statement last week that it would invest the money to support the projects. The company signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Mr. Karega Vicent, the Rwandan state minister in charge of investment promotion and industry. The minister had led a team of Rwanda officials to the region.
Tourism is one of the fast developing sectors in the country. Figures from the Rwanda National Tourism Bureau (ORTPN) indicate that up to 40,000 visitors have come into the country this year alone, bringing in $42 million in receipts. Last year - some 31,000 visitors came brought in receipts amounting to $35.9million. Therefore tourism is worthy a sector to be invested in.
According to Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, Chairman of Dubai World, said at the ceremony, he announced that this event marks the first stage of a strategic partnership between Dubai World and the Government of Rwanda. “We have a strong understanding and affinity with our new partners, and look forward to building a long-term relationship that will see Dubai World play an active role in the master-planning of the country” said the Chairman.
The investment package will be directed to different areas which include the famous Akagera National Park, a home to the big five namely; lions, elephants, rhinoes, buffaloes and giraffes. Located in the North East of Rwanda, the park covers 1,080 square kilometres of undulating plains and wildlife and its worthy to visit for an African safari.
The investment package will also see the redevelopment of the Gorilla Nest Lodge in Volcanoes National Park in the Northern Province where about 300 gorillas from the approximately 700 still remaining world-wide can be tracked.
UAE also said that it would develop an environmentally sensitive luxury tent camp offering a five-star service and bringing the gorillas’ trekkers closer to the home of the animals.
Dubai World will further build a new upscale 150-room hotel in Kigali on the Kigali Golf Course; redevelop the 18-hole golf course and the golf and country club, as well as building townhouses and villas.
The company will further initiate a Golf Foundation, through which a percentage of golf course revenues will be allocated to the promotion of the game for local residents, especially the young, through a golf academy and other initiatives. The Eco-Lodge whose foundation stone was laid a week ago is also part of the deal. The 25-unit complex in the Nyungwe forest to be built in South Western Rwanda is estimated at Rwandan francs 3.99 billion (about $7.2 million).
The Eco-Lodge will be adjacent to a tea plantation in the magnificent Nyungwe Forest National Park, which protects the largest single tract of mountain forest remaining in this region. According to conservationists, Engineer Rihal Sandeep - the co friendly structure will involve building prototype form of ‘nests suspended in trees’ and will have awesome views of the forest and tea fields. According to the Rwandan Government, the lodge will be operational by May next year.
The complex will have a presidential suite, Luxury villas, forest and tea villas, tree houses, nature center library and view tower. Building a reception, kitchen, dining and fitness center, in addition to quarters for staff and drivers are also included in the package.
Construction on all the developments will commence in late 2007 and the company will open an office in Kigali to manage the existing trading operations - paving the way for increased tourist arrivals who seek quality service and high end experience. The assets will be developed and managed by Istithmar Real Estate - Dubai World’s investment arm. Rwanda has also invited investors, among them Qatari commercial banks and Qatar Airways to operate direct flights to Kigali.
Mr. Karega said if Qatar provides support his country in form of heavy infrastructure like airports and exploitation of energy potential, then Rwanda will reciprocate with supplies of food items including organic foods, coffee, tea, meats and diary products as well as semi-finished products like essential oils.
Source: Uganda Travel.com
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