By Jean de Dieu NDUWAYEZU | London–Kigali, November 4, 2025
Rwanda has been honored as Africa’s leading destination for advanced and sustainable tourism infrastructure, a recognition that reaffirms the country’s rapid rise as a premier hub for business, leisure, and eco-conscious travel on the continent.
The announcement came during the prestigious African Tourism Awards 2025, held in London, United Kingdom, on November 2. The annual awards celebrate nations, organizations, and individuals that have made outstanding contributions to Africa’s tourism growth and innovation.
Accepting the honor, Rwanda’s High Commissioner to the UK, Ambassador Johnston Busingye, attributed the recognition to the country’s deliberate investment in world-class hospitality and sustainability.
“Rwanda’s hotels, eco-lodges, and modern conference facilities have set new benchmarks for African tourism,” Busingye said. “They combine excellence, sustainability, and warm Rwandan hospitality.”
The award acknowledged Rwanda’s steady development of five-star hotels and eco-friendly lodges, including Kigali Marriott Hotel, Kigali Serena, Radisson Blu & Kigali Convention Centre, and the soon-to-open Mövenpick Kigali. Outside the capital, the expansion of ultra-luxury lodges such as One & Only Gorilla’s Nest and Wilderness Bisate near Volcanoes National Park has redefined Rwanda’s high-end safari experience.
The country’s infrastructure momentum extends beyond hospitality. Facilities like BK Arena, the Amahoro Stadium, and the Kigali Convention Centre have positioned Rwanda as one of Africa’s top destinations for international conferences, cultural events, and sporting tournaments — a growing sector known as MICE tourism (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions).
According to the Rwanda Development Board (RDB), the tourism sector generated $647 million in 2024, a 4.3% increase from the previous year. This growth was driven largely by a 27% rise in gorilla-based tourism and an 11% increase in air travel. Rwanda welcomed over 1.36 million visitors, hosted more than 115 international events, and earned over $84.8 million from conference tourism alone.
The African Tourism Awards, also known as the Balearica Awards, were first launched in 2017 in Nigeria and are managed by Africa Tourism Awards Ltd, a UK-registered organization dedicated to promoting excellence in African travel industries.
For Rwanda, this recognition is more than a trophy — it is a testament to a national vision that links progress with sustainability, and luxury with responsibility.
