The Republic of Rwanda of recent has announced an
increase in the price of Mountain Gorilla permits. The permits have been raised
from US 750 to US 1,500. This price has been put for all visitors planning to
visit the country for Gorilla trekking or tracking. This however does not mean
that tourists or visitors who had purchased the gorilla permits will not use
them. They will come and view the gorillas. On the other hand however, the
gorilla trekking permit remains at USD 600 in Uganda and is still being issued
by Uganda Wildlife Authority. Following the announcement by Rwanda Development
Board, the increase in the price of these permits is not an attempt to limit
tourists but to rather to encourage more tourists to visit the country.
In the same context, the board has also
introduced a very awesome package for tourists who wish to book as an entire
family. This has been introduced at USD 15,000. After you have paid this fee,
you will have to receive an exclusive personalized tour guide. It is quite an
interesting and awesome offer which you cannot afford to miss as a family.
Following the words of the Clare Akamanzi, who is
the Chief Executive Officer at Rwanda Development Board, he pointed out that
Gorilla trekking is considered as a highly unique and interesting experience in
the country. He adds that the raising in price has been attributed to the
experience attained after you have trekked the gorillas. Accordingly, the price
was raised so that sustainability in conservation is enhanced through
initiatives and visitor's experience, said Clare Akamanzi.
Clare Akamanzi also added that, there is need to
make sure that the communities who are living near the park do receive a bigger
share from the tourism revenues originating from gorilla trekking. These funds
can be used to fund most of the development projects within the country and
also empower these communities economically.
An interesting note which was pointed however was
that for tourists who are visiting Nyungwe National park and Akagera National
park for a minimum of three days, which is an addition to gorilla trekking will
have to receive a discount of 30 percent. In line with this, tourists who come
for conferences and stay for post conference dates with the aim of seeing the
mountain gorillas will be eligible to be given 15 percent discount on the
gorilla trekking permits.
The main goal of increasing the prices of gorilla
permits is to strengthen the conservation efforts and contribute more to the
development of communities who do live near the Volcanoes National Park and
Rwanda Development Bank. This was said in the communication by Clare Akamanzi.
Accordingly, the Rwanda Development Board, it was
announced that the tourism revenues sharing rate for communities which are
adjacent to the park will have to increase from 5 percent to 10 percent. This
will have to increase absolutely the revenues which are received by the
surrounding communities. The board noted that for the last 12 years, there have
been more than 400 community projects that have been completed. These included
hospitals, schools, business development centers and water supply systems. The
water supply system have been put in place to facilitate access to clean water
within the country.
In
his conclusive remarks, Clare Akamanzi said; mountain gorillas are an
endangered species with only around 880 remaining in the whole world. He said
out of this number, approximately 400 live in the Virunga Massif which is across
the Republic of Rwanda, Uganda and the Democratic republic of Congo. The
remaining number live in Uganda in the National parks of Bwindi Impenetrable
Forest and Mghahinga Gorilla National Park.
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