Rhinos contribute to economic growth and sustainable development through the tourism industry, which creates job opportunities and provides tangible benefits to local communities living alongside rhinos. Rhinos are one of the “Big 5” animals popular on African safaris and they are a popular tourism draw in places like the Eastern Himalayas.
Poachers wiped out its native population of rhinos which has affected the level of tourism in the country. However, Rwanda has reintroduced the animals to its national parks after flying up a group of 10 from South Africa on Tuesday.
The 10 rhinos will live at Rwanda’s Akagera National Park, protected by rangers trained in anti-poaching and an electric fence, authorities explained.
Furthermore, more importance to Rhino horn, it is used as daggers and in traditional Asian medicine, is more expensive than gold or cocaine. It was confirmed that it can sell for more than $50,000 per kilo.
Belise Kariza, the chief tourism officer at Rwanda’s development board said:
“The (original) rhinos disappeared because there were cases of poaching. With rhinos reintroduced in Akagera National Park we now actually have a Big Five definition. Definitely, that’s going to attract the attention of tourists.”
She further explained that the top five famous animals that boost tourism sector in Africa are; lion, elephant, buffalo, rhino and leopard. She said the presence of these animals in a park will attract more visitors which will in return boost the economy.
However, the country is aiming at boosting the tourism sector. It was confirmed that Tourism generated $404 million from 1.3 visitors in 2016, and revenues are expected to climb 14 percent to 460 million in 2017.
In addition, Jes Gruner, the Akagera National Park manager, stated that the park was expecting nine more rhinos next week. However, the rhino arrivals follow the successful reintroduction of lions into the park in 2015. The number of lions has increased from seven to 17 which has boosted the number of visitors from in and outside the country.
“Right now we are going to focus on lions and rhinos but another species that was wiped out from Akagera is the wild dog so it is something to be considered in the future,” Gruner said.
Rwanda’s main tourist attraction is the endangered gorillas on the slopes of the Virunga Mountains which is said to generate about 90 percent of tourism revenues through trek permits, travel and accommodation.
It was confirmed that last year, Akagera earned $1.3 million from 36,000 visitors. However, Rwanda now competes with regional heavyweights Kenya and Tanzania, both far bigger countries with a much more established tourist industry. This is to say that Rwanda has made it to the top in tourism.
In no time, Rwanda will be appreciated and recognised in its stand out tourism sector. Boosting this sector is a great move as the country stands to benefit from it. As a matter of fact, it will generate more income which will eventually aid the country’s economic growth and development.
