Red Rocks Wins Best Community-Based Tourism Award

The annual Rwanda Tourism Gala was held on December 21, 2018, at the Kigali Marriott Hotel. During the event, several tourism industry players spanning different categories were recognised and presented with awards for their achievements in the industry this year.

In her keynote address during the ceremony, Ariella Kageruka, the director of the Rwanda Tourism Chamber, said Rwanda’s tourism industry has seen tremendous growth during the past years despite some challenges that it faces, which she added they are trying to mitigate so that the industry retains its enviable position as the country’s leading foreign exchange earner.

“This award ceremony is to recognise individuals and organisations, big and small, who have played their part to ensure that Rwanda’s positive image as a top tourist destination in the region is maintained. This will spur them to come up with more innovative solutions to continue attracting more tourists to the country,” she added.

The award winners included Akagera National Park that was awarded for Sustainable Park of the Year, Red Rocks Cultural Center for the Best Community-Based Tourism Organisation of the Year, Radisson Blu, Kigali for Conference and Events Venue of the year. Others were Akilah Institute that was awarded for Outstanding Achievement in Hospitality and Tourism Education, Fuchsa Bar and Lounge scooped an award as the Bar of the Year, the Tourism Business of the Year went to Alpine Travels while the Health and Spa Facility of the Year was awarded to Scray Spa Kigali.

Speaking at the sidelines of the event, Greg Bakunzi, the founder of Red Rocks Cultural Center, said he was excited that his organisation was awarded as the based community-based tourism organisation of the year, adding that the recognition has given him more impetus to continue coming up with more innovative solutions for the local communities living around the national parks to also gain from the tourism industry.

Bakunzi added that they could not have achieved the feat without the tremendous support of the local community and their partners, saying working together with all these groups have made sure that vulnerable families living around the protected areas can now have sustainable income to support their families, while they are also able to take part in initiatives geared towards environmental conservation, mostly around the Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda.

“We are looking forward to more of such awards and recognition since we are dedicated to continue supporting community-based initiatives that are meant to uplift the living standards of the local communities, which also has a major stake in the tourism industry and conservation of the wildlife habitat,” added Bakunzi.

The award ceremony was a culmination of months of voting where the Rwanda Tourism Chamber invited the public to vote for nominate and vote for individuals, organisations and companies that have made positive contributions to Rwanda’s tourism industry this year. They ranged from national parks, hotels and restaurants, community-based organisations to individuals like drivers, rangers, and tour guides who were also awarded for their efforts.

The Rwanda Tourism Chamber head said the Rwanda Tourism Industry Award gala will continue to award those individuals and organisation to motivate them to come up with viable solutions to mitigate the challenges that the industry is facing.