The tourism sector is a fast growing one. Tourism is one of the main powerhouses of global economic growth. In 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic, tourism and travel sector witnessed the GDP growth rate of 3.5%. In 2023, the sector contributed 9.1% to the global GDP and created 27 million new jobs all around the World.

In this post, we explore the tourism industry in Rwanda, vision and mission of the project, the administrative structure of the project and the main activities of the project.

Tourism opportunities in Rwanda

Currently, tourism is one of the largest industries in the World. Tourism involves the movements of millions of people all around the globe and it attracts considerable investments in many countries. However, while bringing benefits, tourism also contributes in disrupting the environment. Additionally, the bigger the industry becomes, the more pressure it exercises on the environment (Baloch et al., 2022). In this context, tourism growth must go hand in hand with environmental sustainability. Hence, the need for more ecofriendly travel and tourism initiatives.

In Rwanda, many efforts were made in order to encourage tourism. The government established numerous conservation initiatives such as the Volcanoes National Park, where live the mountain gorillas and Akagera National Park, home of “big five”. There are also museums and other touristic sites that constitute Rwanda’s tourism riches.  Rwanda has invested in eco-friendly infrastructure like the eco-lodges and electric transportation facilities in order to minimize environment degradation (Volcanoes National Park, 2023). Rwanda has also initiated eco-tourism campaigns through the Kwita Izina (Gorilla Naming Ceremony) and the partnership with international football clubs in “Visit Rwanda” campaign (Visit Rwanda, 2020).

Despite the considerable effort to promote eco- tourism, much effort is needed especially in the areas of transportation. Tourists need to visit different Rwanda’s tourism destination by using eco-friendly means of transportation. It is in this context that HUYE GREEN TRAVEL is developed. This is a Community-Based Enterprise that provides services related with organizing tourism expeditions by using eco-friendly means of transport. The enterprise is based in Huye District, one of the oldest towns in Rwanda with important cultural and environmental tourism attractions.

 Vision, Mission and Objectives

 Vision

The vision of HUYE GREEN TRAVEL is “to become a model of community-based tourism in Rwanda, famous for fostering cultural preservation, environmental stewardship and inclusive growth, contributing to the wellbeing of local communities and sustainable tourism transportation means”.

 Mission

The mission of HUYE GREENT TRAVEL is “to empower local communities by promoting sustainable tourism transportation means that provide authentic and environment friendly experiences for visitors while ensuring equitable socio-economic development”.

Specifically, HUYE GREEN TRAVEL aims at:

• Promoting sustainable income-generating opportunities for local community members, particularly the youth;
• Showcasing and preserving Rwandan cultural heritage and environmental riches through community led tourism activities;
• Promoting eco-friendly practices in tourism travels in order to minimize the carbon footprints of tourism activities in Rwanda, particularly in Huye district;
• Promoting and encouraging the use of bicycles and travelling on foot as eco-friendly  and healthy transportation means;
• To building partnerships with government agencies, NGOs and the private sector to enhance the visibility and sustainability of Rwanda’s tourism attractions.

Legal Structure

HUYE GREEN TRAVEL has the legal status of a Community-Based Tourism Enterprise (CBTE). According to the National Guidelines for Community Based Tourism Enterprises in Rwanda, “Community-based Tourism” is one of the tourism sub-sectors with a direct social and economic impact on local communities. By developing community based tourism Enterprises, communities gain income generation opportunities and better job prospects” (Rwanda Development Board, 2022).

One of the reasons we decided to make HUYE GREEN TRAVEL a community Based Tourism Enterprises was to ensure local community involvement in tourism activities. Community engagement helps communities to manage and to preserve their cultural or natural resources. It also allow them to take part in direct social, economic and cultural transformation of their community by focusing on environmental sustainability (Rwanda Development Board, 2022).

Products and services

The primary services provided by HUYE GREEN TRAVEL are to organize tourism travels by using eco-friendly means of transport, organizing hiking activities on different tourism sites in Huye District, selling and renting bicycles and organizing campaign on eco-friendly travelling.

a) Organizing tourism travels by using eco-friendly transport means

At HUYE GREEN TRAVEL, we focus on using eco-friendly transportation means especially bicycles. We organize tourism expeditions in different tourism attractions by using bicycles as the mean of transportation. Huye District is the ideal destination for tourists seeking to explore and experience Rwandan culture and nature. The presence of well-maintained roads and good climate conditions (Huye District, 2018) make Huye District a formidable area to explore by using bicycles.

Tourists interested in touring Huye District by bicycles register by using our online platforms. They can also find us at our offices located in Ngoma Sector, Ngoma  Town.  As the home of much tourism attractions like the ethnographic museum of Rwanda, The Huye Hills, known as “Ibisi bya Huye”, many colonial buildings and other cultural, historical and natural tourism attractions, Huye is an ideal destination of tourist. Huye also holds the advantages of being at the main road linking Rwanda and Burundi where many people travel and accommodate for business, work, leisure or tourism purposes. Huye has considerable leisure and sports infrastructures like the Huye International Stadium. It is also the passing way for tourists who visit Nyungwe National Park in Nyamagabe and Nyamasheke Districts.

Apart from travelling with bicycles, we also host tourists who travel on foot as another carbon free travelling means. According to Sustrans (2020), travelling by using bicycles and on foot promotes eco-friendly tourism and contributes in the well-being of travelers as they do sports activities while travelling.

b) Organizing hiking travels and sports activities in some tourism sites

To enhance the culture of green travelling, we organize hiking travel and sports activities in different tourism attractions in Huye districts. According to World Health Organization (2021), hiking as an outdor recreational activity, when good done, has positive environemental impacts. It promotes nature appreciation and exploration and encouraging conservation efforts. On personal level, hiking enhance well being through physical activities.

Hiking activities are organized in different hilly and remote areas of Huye Districts holding cultural and historical meanings for the tourists. These activities allows both local and international tourist to explore different natural features of Huye District and interact with local communities.

c) Selling and renting bicycles

In line with our mission to promote eco-friendly travel in Huye District, we sell and rent bicycles. We sell travel bicycles to tourists and local travelers. Bicycles to buy and to rent are found at our bicycle store in Ngoma Town in Huye District. People can also order bicycles by using our website and online platforms.

Selling and renting bicycles allows our clients to access and afford travelling by bicycles. This enable tourists and local travelers to travel using the bicycles as eco-friendly mean of transport.

d) Organizing awareness campaigns on eco-friendly travelling

As a community based tourism enterprise, we organize periodic campaigns aimed at promoting the use of eco- friendly transportations means among local citizens. Campaigns are done through local media like radios and televisions. We also use our website and other online platforms.

We cooperate with local authorities and other tourism enterprises in order to invite local people to attend our campaigns and encourage them to use bicycles and walking on foot wherever possible. People are also targeted in mass mobilization events like sports activities, rallies and meetings.

In the next post, we will explore other parts of this business proposal like the budget, the challenges and solutions, the project’s contribution to responsible tourism, the SWOT analysis and the project sustainability.

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