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Johannesburg - The Government of Rwanda through the Rwanda Development Board, will host the Africa Hotel Investment Forum (AHIF) in 2016 in Kigali.
AHIF brings together the leading international hotel investors in Africa with local operators, ministers, government officials and industry experts, to discuss all aspects of hotel investment and operation in Africa.
The decision to host AHIF in Kigali underlines a strategy by the Government of Rwanda to attract investment in the tourism sector.
“We see AHIF as an excellent platform to meet many of the most important decision makers and investors, who have the power collectively to influence investment in the hospitality industry in Africa," said Ambassador Yamina Karitanyi, chief tourism officer at the Rwanda Development Board.
"We are determined to build relationships and showcase Rwanda as the right place to do business and, therefore, we believe that hosting the event will create an opportunity for local hotel developers to forge partnerships with investors.”
In Africa as a whole, travel and tourism is seen as a highly attractive growth industry. According to the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), it is responsible for 8.1% of gross domestic product (GDP) and it is forecast to rise at 4.9% per annum until 2025.
Similarly, Rwanda’s tourism sector continues to grow positioning itself as the leading foreign earner for the country. For the financial year 2013 to 2014, the sector registered a three per cent increase in the number of visitors to Rwanda.
These numbers grew from 1.14 million visitors to 1.2 million visitors also accounting for an increase in revenue from $293.4m in 2013 to $303m in 2014.
In Rwanda, leisure has been a major driver of Rwanda’s tourism industry. Currently, the country is focusing on meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions (Mice) tourism, capitalising on safety, developed infrastructure.
Later this year, Rwanda will host the Interpol AGM, World Economic Forum on Africa in 2016 as well as the Africa Union Summit in 2016.
“I know of at least three hotel projects in Rwanda that came about as a consequence of a conversation at AHIF. I have every confidence that the proactive approach that is being displayed by the Rwanda Development Board will pay off," said Jonathan Worsley, chair of Bench Events, the company that organises AHIF and other international hotel investment conferences.
"All the major hotel chains are seeking new opportunities in Africa – and one of the most crucial issues for them is to find public sector partners that are making a serious effort to speak their language.”
In 2014, the event took place in Addis Ababa and attracted over 500 participants from more than 40 countries who represented over 400 companies. AHIF 2015 will again take place in Addis - at the Sheraton hotel from September 30 to October 1.
