Rwanda has invested heavily in tourism and making its unique nature accessible to attract visitors. Along the Congo Nile Trail, FUF correspondent Elis Josefsson meets enthusiasts who, through tourism, create opportunities for the development of local communities. At the same time, major challenges remain in the country, such as widespread poverty and a lack of educational opportunities.
– When the government invested in the hiking trail here, we announced that we could be one of the stops, which we did. Now we house tourists, and the surplus from the business goes to developing the local community, mainly the schools, he says. Patrick The Bategana.
Patrick and his wife Jacqueline are missionaries from Uganda, who have taken root in the village of Bumba where they are now driver their hostel. Every evening they light a fire for the tired hikers they house, offering conversation, meals and a fantastic view.
In the morning, before my hike continues, Patrick shows how their work with the schools has yielded results. Since 2013, they have invested in school activities with the aim of "offer qualitative and inclusive education to so many children that possible i rural areas. "
– We realized that there was a need for quality childcare and established a preschool. As resources have increased, we have built on more classes, and now we have several cohorts in the younger ages here in the area. In this way, the children get a safe place to be during the day, a place to be educated and develop their potential, says Patrick.
As he shows me the classrooms, the children are studying English. He explains how the school has made the town more attractive. - Both civil servants and public employees have moved here because they know their children can get a good education.
– Today we have successful students at good schools around here, parents who understand the importance of a good education, and who want to take advantage of their children's potential, says Patrick.
For Innocent in Musasa, it is not as easy to make ends meet
A few kilometers north is the next stop on the trail, the village of Musasa, where Innocent Twagirumukiza runs a similar hostel. The visitor base doesn't make it particularly profitable, but he says he's doing his best.
“I get joy from seeing the locals here happy. Some of the districts along the trail are among Rwanda’s poorest. Our vision is to make a difference by transforming the communities around our operations. We want to give back to the local communities,” he says.
Innocent says he would have liked to do more, but that he is dependent on income from tourists. The war on the other side of the border, just a few miles away in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, is crucial to whether people dare to come or not, and in recent years it has been a struggle.
– Recently, the hostel has not been making any profit at all - both because of unrest and because of the covid pandemic. We also compete with hotels and other businesses that do not always have the same social commitment, says Innocent.
Rwanda Tourism Policy from 2009 describes how the country's tourism should be used as a tool for development. The initial goal was to make Rwanda a hub for ecotourism, in line with the then development plan “vision 2020”. Through the initiative, national parks and hiking trails have been built and Rwanda has become a recognized destination for ecotourism.
Year 2019 experienced the country's best tourist year herentils w/ 1,63 million visitors – an industry that then generated $498 million in profit. The tourism policy shouldrevenues from increased tourism devoted ate “sustainable economic growth and a fair distribution of assets for the benefit of all Rwandans.”
In addition to boosting government revenues, tourism would also contribute directly to communities. This would be done by including small and micro-entrepreneurs in the tourism chain, so that people in rural areas could benefit from the growing sector through small-scale activities themselves.
Patrick and Innocent are examples of such small-scale business, and show what tourism can mean for the local community. They also show how difficult it can be when the business is not only to make a profit, but also to combine it with social purposes and give back to society.
“Although the surplus from the operation goes to the schools and is a help, we need other funding. We bring in volunteers and often look for project sponsors,” says Patrick.
According to Innocent, tourism revenue is not going to those who need it most, like some of the coffee farmers. Innocent talks about a coffee plantation he visited that falls outside the tourism development potential because it is not located i direkt connection to the hiking trail.
– At all stops along the trail, visitors can experience coffee plantations and local crafts, which gives some people a chance, but not everyone. Theyn average coffee farmersen "Here they earn 20–30 times less than what their coffee is sold for in the market. It's their children who can't afford to go to school. It's unfair, that's who I want to work for," says Innocent.
Innocent believes that the way forward must both include and benefit the right people. Those who are currently not reached by the opportunities of tourism need to find other ways to strengthen their livelihoods, and have much to contribute, he believes. have.
“Many people here make a living from tourism, and if properly organized, tourism can make a real difference. Even though the people here are often categorized as poor, I feel like you get so much more from them than you can give back. They really have so much to contribute,” says Innocent.
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