RDB/Tourism & Conservation,
November 2009
Rwanda was the only African country
to be honored with one of the seven outstanding awards
at the ongoing World Travel Market (WTM) Exhibition
in London as Best Stand Personnel award beating other
600 selected exhibitors. This award was attributed
to the excellent Customer service, professionalism
and doing business atmosphere at the stand.
"This is a tremendous achievement
for the country coming six years after Rwanda was
re-launched at the same expo”, confirms the
enthusiastic Rosette Rugamba, Deputy CEO of the Rwanda
Development Board- Tourism and Conservation. She attributes
Rwanda’s winning to the high level of professionalism
and hospitality displayed by the exhibitors. She added,
the exhibitors were enthusiastic, approachable, knowledgeable
of products and very interactive and with both clients
and customers.
She revealed that eye-catching stand
has more than doubled in size to 100sq M and well
adorned with Rwandan cultural artifacts to complement
the traditional outfits worn by the exhibitors. There
is no doubt the prior preparation including training
for the tour operators on how to maximize their presence
at trade fairs has enhanced the level of professionalism.
Visitors to the Rwandan stand had the
opportunity to learn about the new experiences including
a new canopy walk in Nyungwe forest which will be
the first of its kind in the Eastern Region, an Interpretation
Center, a high end 20 seat leisure boat, an extraordinary
three day walking trail along the Congo Nile Divide
in Nyungwe and Kwita Izina 2010.
The annual WTM event attracts nearly
50,000 exhibitors and over 2,500 travel media. No
doubt such recognition adds to the positive image
of Rwanda as a destination of choice for tourists,
especially as tourists prepare to travel for the 2010
World Cup in South Africa. The WTM participation is
one of several initiatives to lure the 780,000 visitors
to Rwanda this year who are expected to generate an
estimated $195 million in tourism revenue.
Other winners in the different categories
include Andura (Best Stand Design), Travelutions (Best
Stand for Technology), New York (Best Travel Agent)
and Laterooms Company (Best Stand for Business).
Rwanda is exhibiting at stand (AF2600)
in partnership with 9 companies including tour and
travel agencies and the national air carrier, Rwandair
Express,with the support of the Embassy and Racepoint
group. Today, November 11th at 3pm (GMT), East African
Community (EAC) member states held a joint cocktail
party at the Rwanda stand, where EAC Ambassadors and
Ministers collaborated at a press conference to market
the region with the sole aim of stimulating investment
and trade in East Africa.
Rwanda has continued to scoop the Best African Exhibitor
at the largest tourism trade fare at ITB-Berlin since
2007 to date.
For more information please contact RDB/
Tourism and Conservation office or email reservation@rwandatourism.com
or visit our website at www.rwandatourism.com www.rwandatourism.com
.
.
|
