OVERTOURISM IN EMERGING MARKETS

RWANDA & UGANDA

ROGER GOODACRE

Tourism Development Consultant

EAST AFRICA – GREAT LAKES REGION

VIRUNGA MOUNTAINS

KEY CHALLENGES

Negative images from the recent past

Big neighbouring competitors selling the same product

Over-reliance on one iconic attraction

COMMON STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES

Increase length of stay

Increase revenues

Spread traffic more widely

Diversify and upgrade the product

Improve service delivery

Reduce human-wildlife conflict

Ensure environmental and economic sustainability

COUNTRY PROFILE -RWANDA

Foreign Arrivals –

2010 504,000

2015 987,000

Of which leisure visitors = 6%

International Visitor Receipts

2010 $202M

2015 $368M

Contribution to GDP 8.3%

Total jobs 7.3%

Rwanda – Key Attractions

UGANDA COUNTRY PROFILE Foreign Arrivals –

2010 946,000

2015 1.3M

Of which leisure visitors = 7%

International Visitor Receipts

2010 $784M

2015 $1,174M

Contribution to GDP 6.6%

Total jobs 504,000

Uganda – Key Attractions

THE MOUNTAIN GORILLA EXPERIENCE

VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK, RWANDA

BWINDI IMPENETRABLE FOREST, UGANDA

OUTCOMES

Rwanda bookings stagnant

Uganda bookings 90%

Operators modifying itineraries in favour of Uganda

REMEMBER - NEVER FACE DOWN A GORILLA!