Covid-19: Rwanda has introduced new measures to facilitate the movement of tourists and operators to tourism entities between Kigali and other provinces!

The Rwanda Development Board (RDB), a government department that integrates all government agencies responsible for the attraction, retention and facilitation of investments in Rwanda's economy, has announced that the following measures to facilitate the movement of tourists and operators to tourism entities between Kigali and other provinces have been put into place.

• Travellers, including drivers, are required to fill and submit movement requests at https://www.visitrwanda.com/domestic-tourists-facilitation-form/ together with copies of negative COVID-19 test results to domestictourism@rdb.rw at least 24 hours prior to the trip
• The only accepted tests for tourist visiting Volcanoes National Park, Nyungwe National Park and Gishwati-Mukura National Park is the SARS-CoV 2 Real Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) taken within 72 hours
• A negative Rapid Antigen Test (RDT) taken within 72 hours will be accepted for Akagera National Park
• All other tourism destinations including hotel stays will accept either a Rapid Antigen Test (RDT) or SARS-CoV 2 Real Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) taken within 120 hours.

Rwanda introduces new tourism-related Covid-19 prevention measures!

The Rwanda Development Board (RDB), a government department that integrates all government agencies responsible for the attraction, retention and facilitation of investments in Rwanda's economy, has announced that the Government of Rwanda has introduced new tourism-related Covid-19 prevention measures.

• All guests staying at various hotels in Rwanda are required to present a negative SARS-CoV 2 Real Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) or Antigen Rapid Covid-19 test.
• International tourists entering Rwanda are required to take another Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test upon arrival which is valid for 120 hours. They are required to take a rapid test after this period elapses.
• Tourists visiting Rwanda's National Parks are required to present a negative SARS-CoV 2 Real Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) test with the exception of Akagera National Park where a negative Antigen Rapid Test result for Covid-19 is accepted.
• The cost of the Rapid Antigen Test for Covid-19 is Rwf 10,000 and results are available within 15 minutes after a test is taken. The cost of the  Real Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) test is Rwf 50,000.
• All hotel properties in Rwanda are required to check for tests results before checking in guests.

Rwanda: African Parks takes over the management of Nyungwe National Park!

African Parks, a non-governmental organization (NGO) focused on conservation, and the Government of Rwanda have signed an 20-year agreement for Nyungwe National Park, through which African Parks is taking over the management of the National Park. The NGO will work together with the Rwanda Development Board (RDB), a government department that integrates all government agencies responsible for the attraction, retention and facilitation of investments in Rwanda's economy, to secure the sustainability of Nyungwe National Park by improving law enforcement, investing in and stimulating local enterprise, and by optimising the National Parks's potential for conservation-based tourism. 

Nyungwe National Park, which is located the south-west of Rwanda, is the largest expanse of forest in the country. The National Park is home to a quarter of Africa’s primates – 13 species including chimpanzees and the extremely rare Hamlyn’s and L’Hoest’s monkeys - as well as to more than 1,000 plant species, 75 known mammal species, 322 bird species and at least 120 butterfly species.

Nyungwe National Park represents the second such partnership between RDB and African Parks in Rwanda, following a management agreement for Akagera National Park that began 2010. It is the 19th Park in Africa to join the African Parks portfolio.

Rwanda reopens for domestic and international tourism!

The Rwanda Development Board (RDB), which promotes tourism and investment for Rwanda, yesterday (17 June 2020) announced the reopening of tourism activities as well as the resumption of international travel for charter flights, effective 17 June 2020. Rwanda introduced specific precautionary measures, sidelined by robust health and safety guidelines, to create a safe environment for travelers and operators during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
In cooperation with the country'S private sector, the RDB is offering all-inclusive tourism packages for Rwandans and foreign residents. These packages have been designed to showcase the Rwanda's leisure and recreational experiences.

Promotional offers are available until 31 December 2020 in Rwanda's National Parks:

• Gorilla permits are now available for USD 200 for Rwandans & East African Community (EAC; Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda) nationals residing in Rwanda, and USD 500 for foreign residents.
• Special packages are available for groups, families and corporates on other products in Volcanoes National Parks and Nyungwe National Park.

Specific precautionary measures are as follows:

• Domestic tourists visiting Nyungwe National Park and Volcanoes National Park are required to test negative for COVID-19 within 48 hours prior to visiting these attractions. A private test center has been set up at Petit Stade, Amahoro National Stadium in Kigali, by appointment only. Other test centers outside Kigali will be communicated as demand grows.
• All visitors travelling by charter flights are expected to test negative for COVID-19 within 72 hours prior to arrival. Tourists will take a second COVID-19 test prior to visiting any tourist attraction.

Guidelines for re-opening tourism activities during COVID-19 | Official Rwanda Development Board (RDB) Website

The principles and considerations outlined in these guidelines were compiled through reference materials including from the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO), International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA), Global Association for Attractions Industry, World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Rwanda Ministry of Health (MoH) guidelines on COVID-19 prevention.