Tourism in Rwanda Rises

In Rwanda, the conservation of biodiversity has been a major concern since the Colonial era with the creation of the three national parks that harbour rich natural Resources and exceptional tourist opportunities. After independence, the Rwanda Office of Tourism and National parks (ORTPN), whose main mandates were to ensure the promotion of sustainable tourism and the conservation of wildlife was established to answer this concern. Furthermore the Rwandan Government adopted the protection of environment and the promotion of tourism among the main focus of poverty reduction and development in its document “Vision 2020”, with the overall aim to prop up sustainable development. 3 days rwanda gorilla tracking

Also, Rwanda sits at the heart of Africa at the center of the Albertine Rift, where deep volcanic forces are pressing the continental plates apart Its where the world’s exquisite beauty is found as well as unsurpassed biodiversity. Still the country is the bridge between the forest ecosystems of the Congo basin along with the great rift valleys of the East. It shares in the biological riches of both worlds, offering a concentration of biodiversity found nowhere else in Africa plus a wide variety of wildlife. The Volcano National Park in northern Rwanda is home to rare mountain gorillas numbering in hundreds. Apart from mountain Gorillas, the availability of many tourist attractions and potentials led to the development of an absolute guide for conversing Rwanda’s wildlife, history as well as culture along with practicalities such as travel cost and accommodation.

Mean while Rwanda safari is well known for its mountain gorillas which was first brought to international attention by the conservation efforts of Dian Fossey in the 1960s and 70s, Rwanda’s gorillas have featured in numerous documentaries and have in the recent past been visited for example by Bill Gates, Natalie Portman and Ted Turner, who have all participated in the annual gorilla naming ceremony. Of recent, the country launched the Canopy Walk at Nyungwe National Park set 50 meters above ground; it is a thrill-a-minute walkway into the treetops that gives visitors a new, exciting way to experience the park. With this launch, Rwanda Development Board re-states its commitment to product diversification and to enhancing tourists' experiences while conserving the Park's rich biodiversity.

Rwanda’s tourism sector registered a $7.2m increase during the first half of 2010, according to the country’s Development Board. The results represent a 9% increase on previous year, rising from $80.1m to $87.3m, with improved performance for the entire hospitality sector attributed for it. It follows a fall in arrivals between 2008 and 2009 from 699,000 to 765,000. As a result, the Rwandan government is now expecting to generate $206m compared to $174m. rwanda gorilla safari

Rica Rwigamba, head of tourism and conservation at the Rwanda Development Board said that “the country had seen a marked rise in the number of tourists visiting the Volcanoes National Park over the last three years”. However, Rwigamba accepted that Rwanda’s growing tourism sector will still attract more tourists due to the quality of its accommodation and services. gorilla tours rwanda

1.2m mark figure set to hit Kenya tourism

Kenya Tourism forms a vital foundation for the country's economy and is highlights two of Kenya's most unique features wildlife and beaches which make the tourism industry so far the largest single export earner in the country. Careful planning and proactive leadership have maximized the tourism potential as Kenya continually outpaces it's East African safari neighbours.This is evidenced by the solid infrastructure coupled with a devotion to wildlife conservation has propelled Kenya to the forefront of the regional tourism industry.

Besides, Kenya Tourist figures are expected to reach 1.2 million visitors coming through the major airports by the end of the year, Tourism Minister Najib Balala has said.
This will be the largest numbers in the sector’s history having surpassed the 2007 statistics by 17% monthly.” We are experiencing an average 71 percent monthly growth in tourism arrivals compared to 2007 and therefore project the tourist arrivals to hit 1.2million mark by the end of the year. These figures exclude working cross-border travel, Kenyan Diaspora returning home and foreign experts working in the county. The statistics are based on the arrivals from Jumo Kenyatta International Airport and Moi International Airport and the port of Mombasa”. mt kenya safari tours

The Tourism minister told a media briefing on Thursday that the rise was due to aggressive marketing campaigns as well as diversification of the countries traditional source markets.” The new markets we are targeting are Eastern Europe, India, China, Japan as well as African countries where we see great potential," Mr Balala said. safari masai mara

The Government is now riding on Kenyans in the Diaspora to sell the country’s image and cultural heritage. Also Brand Kenya Board says it has planned a series of meetings with Kenyans living abroad in a bid to sensitise them about marketing Kenya as a tourist and investment destination.” We have plans to involve Kenyans in the Diaspora in a project to market our image," says Mary Kimonye, Chief Executive of Brand Kenya Board.” We will soon visit the US and other areas with notable numbers of Kenyans to sensitise them on the issues at hand." Masai mara holidays

More so, the Kenya’s tourism sector has recovered in the past months withstanding the global economic crisis, the volcanic ash phenomenon and the unending travel advisories.
The high figures especially from emerging markets of east Europe, China, India and Africa have contributed immensely to the recovery of the sector. gorilla safaris rwanda

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Kenya Leopard Beach Hotel& Spa wins an Award

The beaches of Kenya offer you an unending scope to enjoy yourself the way you
want. Relax in isolation, walk in the water, play with sand, party till the
early hours, admire the beauty of the surroundings or indulge in water sports -
do anything, the choice is entirely yours. kenya tours , The vast stretches of sea water have a unique ability to carry away all your worries and heartaches along with its waves.gorilla safari tours , You can also watch the sun rise and set far in the horizon and appreciate the beauty that is reflected as a reflection in the water.

kenya hotels , And for all those who are more adventurous and yearn for a lot of challenging
activities, the beaches have plenty of options to choose from. Swim along with
the waves of the beach water or dive deep into the water to discover a
magnificent and colourful Water Sports Centre - offering windsurfing, kite
surfing, kayaking, pedelos and catamarans for hire or tuition Big game fishing
,Glass-bottom boat trip in the world. rwanda safari
Due to the tranquil environment with abundant greenery around is just perfect to
relax and refresh ,Kenya's Leopard Beach Resort & Spa has won the 2010 World
Travel Awards Africa & Indian Ocean award in the Best Resort category at the
ceremony which took place last week in Johannesburg, South Africa had over 1,000
global tourism industry participants. Chris Modigell the representative of
Leopard Beach Resort & Spa said Kenya is gaining good tourism reputation from
such award though the country still faces considerable challenge from South
Africa as a favourable tourism destination due to infrastructure development.
However, he concluded that that the above challenge can be solved by providing
better customer service to tourists.kenya tourist attactions

Unlike the very common and predictable experiences of living in a hotel, leopard
Beach Resort & Spa is a refreshing change for visitors of Beach Tourism in
Kenya. Accommodation occupancy of the beach hotels to the tourists that come to
Kenya all year around has become a prevalent practice at the beach hotels. The
major factor that sets leopard Beach Resort & Spa apart from hotels is the
bewitching experience of privacy, uganda gorilla safari space and personalized service. It fulfills
your needs and desires for tranquility and peace. The experience of spending
your days and nights at leopard is not at all different than the feeling of
home. Everything in the leopard beach hotel & Spa is personalized for your
convenience and comfort. rwanda gorilla safari

The gardens at Leopard Beach Hotel are beautifully landscaped over 30 acres and
immaculately maintained which give an even greater ambience. The room blocks are
dotted around the carefully planned gardens and look almost invisible. This
makes you feel like you are in a smaller secluded hotel. Almost at the end of
the big renovation project, the resort will soon launch their Uzuri Health Spa
and Fitness Forest at the back of the Hotel.

Still, Leopard Beach Resort will be surrounded by 6 acres of indigenous forest
and promises to offer only the best treatments and therapies available. They
have tried to make the resort as comfortable as possible and offer the little
things which other hotels do not, like the Tutti Frutti Ice Cream parlour down
near the beach. Pizzas are part of the culture of the place and they serve
possibly the best pizza in Kenya. They also host a wide variety of activities
from a PADI 5 star dive centre to golf, which can be enjoyed at Dotted gorilla tours in uganda
throughout the vast 25 acres of magnificent tropical gardens are a total of 158
rooms, cottages and suites (90 standard rooms, 48 sea-facing superior rooms, 10
Chui class cottages, 7 suites and 2 superior suites and 5 honeymoon suites and 2
executive suites). We highly recommend the honeymoon suites with their sunken
baths! The executive suites have Jacuzzi baths and amazing power showers. The
above facilities together with the Beach Resort Hotel Restaurant offer you the
fine dining at its finest and perfect tanzania safari for that romantic meal. For lunch, sample
stir-fries at Coco Mchana on Coco Beach or try the Italian specialty restaurant
– Pizza ‘n' Pasta Tornati and whatever eatable you would wish to have. Dinners
are equally exciting with a blend of local cultural shows every night including
the famous Maasai dances, live bands and acrobats. Evening entertainment
includes a disco overlooking the ocean, traditional African dancing and weekly
BBQ's around the pool. gorilla tours

In brief a beach and wildlife tour in will provide every kind of thing to enjoy,
from isolation and opportunity for introspection to action and fun. Take a beach
trip and wildlife safari Kenya and experience what makes the beaches and
wildlife in Kenya attractive to so many tourists.kenya safari packages

Customer satisfaction leads to loyalty

All customers in the business world look for finest places in which they can get the best services to quench there thirsty. Besides, customer satisfaction, measures how products and services supplied by a company meet or surpass customer expectation and also seen as the key performance indicator within business and is part of the four of a Balanced Score for the business success. Customer perceptions are what indicate whether you have achieved satisfaction or not. In other words, they represent stepping stones along a continuum. Perceptions accumulate over time and gradually equate to either satisfaction or dissatisfaction. In Tourism industry, the job of tour operators, travel agencies is to understand and act on the customer perceptions so that the final result is customer satisfaction. kenya beach holiday
However, satisfaction may lead to loyalty. But loyalty is an option among many choices. Being using a royal tour company and using a satisfied tour company are clearly two different things. Researchers say customers love in compartments while services providers love customers as a whole. This means that customers love there service providers because of there expertise and organizing ability which is unique. Thus, at the same time he/she can decide to get another service provider while still showing trust in the first service provider for her good customer handling services.

The scenario painted makes me wonder if it is true to say that the customer is satisfied whereas the service provider is loyal. Cut back to events around us. The recent Mangalore Air India crash and the Kenya Airways one a while back would have any nerve-wrecked flier put their hands to their hearts and vow never to fly either airline again. But does that happen? Other forces come in play like price, time, service, crash records, probability factors and before we know it, off we go with the same airline. What is the driver? Is it loyalty or is it satisfaction? kenya family safari

When the same people have to travel between Mangalore to Dubai they have no option as only one flight is on that route. For marketers, this is a point to note as it spells out that because consumers use your service daily, that does not mean they are loyal to it neither does it mean they are satisfied with it. All it spells is opportunity for someone else to come in and take your market while you are busy measuring loyalty.
Closer to home, road accidents are heard of every day. Yet a man wakes up in the morning going to look for his daily bread and will use the same route and the same means of transport. Is that loyalty towards earning or satisfaction that he is doing something with his life.

The same scenario to when you are shopping in your area and want to buy water among other things. This time round you will pick your brand of choice which is driven by your loyalty to it. There fore, Satisfaction is one of the needs that every living thing lives by. Be it satisfaction of a meal, satisfaction of having slept well or satisfaction of buying a brand that gives you value for money. Yet on the other hand you have loyalty or devotion that is linked to faith. Faith comes from the promise made by the brand, emotion or relationship. Satisfaction is brought about by a feeling of contentment whilst loyalty is tied with dependability. kenya cultural safari

Meanwhile in the Tourism industry, we measure our on time delivery, customer complaints, customer rejects as well as the touchy feely customer perception from the daily contact we have with our customers. It does not always pile up that good delivery and good quality makes a good customer perception and vice versa. Houses on sale in nairobi kenya For example, the customer may perceive us as unhelpful if they do not reschedule orders quickly enough for them (even if unreasonable) or give enough support to their design team even though they deliver what they order on time with no faults.

Alternatively, customer’s perception of the service provider can be good even though they are late on delivery or have quality problems. Thus, they react to those problems and are seen to be doing everything which put them right. At the end of the day perception is the overriding 'measure' because new orders are more often placed based on the perception of the customer rather than on the actual delivery and quality statistics. While each approach has its application, customer perception is king and the customer’s evaluation is what matters most. kenya safaris africa

Tourism in East Africa

In East Africa, Land-based tourism is a major economic activity which attracts millions of visitors to different sites across the region every year and generating millions of dollars in foreign exchange earnings. Sites such as the great National Parks of East, the Great Rift Valley of Eastern, Mount Rwenzori in Uganda, Mount Kenya safari packages in Kenya and Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania are some of the major attractions. Mountains, wildlife, wetlands and coastal areas are also major tourist attractions in the region kenya safari vacations.

The above attractions contribute to the increase in the number of tourist arrival in the East African region every year. However, Ecotourism accounts for around 30 percent of total international tourism. In recognition of ecotourism’s growth potential, particularly for developing countries, the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) declared 2002 the International Year of Ecotourism.Rwanda gorilla safari Many countries in Africa, such as Kenya, Uganda and South Africa, have invested heavily in ecotourism.

Tourism in East Africa include viewing gorillas which is the most exciting activity in the Great Lakes Region, game drive, Chimpanzee tracking, launch trips, birding activity, mountain-climbing in Eastern Africa, cultural tour, Rafting and many other activities. In the Great Lakes Region, for example, revenue from tourism based on gorilla viewing and other activities brings in about US$20 million to the region annually. gorilla safari rwanda , Thus, Tourism can serve as a powerful incentive to protect natural resources in East Africa. Since tourism is the first largest foreign exchange earner, a lot of development plans and strategy have been laid to ensure further development plans in the sector.

Tourism not only generates revenue to support conservation and management of natural environments but also generates many jobs. For example, hundreds of people live off the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest in Uganda, kenya safari tours where foreign tourists trek to view gorillas. It has been argued that tourism has larger multiplier effects, with revenue spreading from hotel accommodation, food and beverages, shopping, entertainment and transport to income of hotel staff, taxi operators, shopkeepers and suppliers of goods and services.

Despite the growth of tourism, opportunities for further investment and development are vast in the region for example, Marketing East Africa as one tourism destination, the introduction of one single east Africa visa, influstructures development and improvement plans like in kenya safari holidays (Rwanda, Uganda), favorable regulations for investment in the region mention but a few.

In addition, measures need to be adopted to ensure that the benefits associated with tourism are spread across society, and that those who are directly involved in conservation are rewarded. Meanwhile, for those planning to have the best of there Holiday vacations in East Africa, don’t look any further apart from Uganda, Rwanda, Kenya family safari holidays , and Tanzania.

Wildebest Migration 2010 Kenya Tanzania Safari tours

East Africa is a region of all talents with outstanding attractions such as the Might River Nile and its source in Uganda, the Kilimanjaro mountains in Tanzania and the Masai in Kenya,wildebeest migration kenya. You will explore East Africa but your tour will not be complete if you miss out on the great wildebeest migration in Tanzania or Kenya.

Each year around 1.5 million wildebeest and 300,000 zebra (along with other antelope) gather up their young and start their long trek from Tanzania's Serengeti Plains, further north to Kenya's Masai Mara Reserve. This is an annual natural occurrence that takes place in Kenya and Tanzania and is believed to be the greatest wildlife show on planet earth. Between the open plains of the Serengeti and the Masai Mara kenya, big herds wildebeest and zebras migrate to palatable pastures as the seasons change. Predators follow the Wildebeest Migration closely, waiting for an opportunity to feast on weak animals especially the ungulates.kenya tour

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The annual Wildebeest Migration is a very unpredictable and spontaneous as its timing keeps on changing depending on the rains (Weather pattern). It is believed that 450 animal species move for 300 miles in this migration unfortunately a lot of them don’t make it, falling prey to lions, leopards, crocodiles and drowning in the Mara River. This event is like a circle that repeats it self every year.Serengeti crater safari tour
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One of the most breath taking sights of the migration is when the herds congregate to cross the Grumeti River (Tanzania) and the Mara River (Kenya) from July through September. As the herds cross, crocodiles are lying in wait for any puny and feeble ungulates that can't deal with the strong currents or separate from their mothers.
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But the river crossings aren't the only scene. Just witnessing thousands of animals on the plains is a sight in itself. It’s so amazing to watch the Lions, leopards, hyenas and wild dogs follow the herds and give safari goers excellent chances of seeing a kill in action.ngorongoro crater safari

The great wildebeest migration is dynamic changing in time and location but the following information can be used as a guideline.

In December through March large herds of wildebeest, Zebra and other ungulates camp in the Serengeti plains and the Ngorongoro Conservation areas in northern Tanzania.Kenya tanzania safari. This is time is for calving which term is used for giving birth to the wildebeest young ones (calves). Most of the wildebeest calves are born in just a three week period, usually the beginning of February. Calves attract predators and this is an amazing time of year to watch impressive lion hunts (kills). It's also quite stunning to see almost half a million little wildebeest being born and running together with their mothers.
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During this time you can watch the migration from southern Ndutu and Salei plains. For your accommodation you can stay in Ndutu Safari Lodge, Kusini Camp, Lemala Ndutu Camp and any mobile tented camps in the area.Masai mara flying safari

Kenya safari holiday .By April/May the herds embark on moving west and north to the now flourishing grasses and woodlands of the Serengeti’s western Corridor. The rains during this time of year make it difficult to follow the herds at this stage of their migration. Many of Tanzania's smaller camps/accommodations shut down due to impassable/slippery roads.Kenya camping safaris

By the end of May, as the rainy season comes to an end, the wildebeest and zebra slowly start moving northwards and individual groups begin to gather and form much larger herds. This is also the time the wildebeest mate. Western Serengeti is the best place to watch the migration unfold.
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By July the herds reach their first big hindrance, the Grumeti River. The Grumeti River can get deep in places, more so if the rains have been heavy. This is the first of the stunning river ,crossings you can observe. The depth of the river makes drowning a distinct possibility for many wildebeest and there are a lot of crocodiles to take advantage of their distress. The best places to stay during this stunning experience are the Serengeti Serena, Grumeti River Camp, Migration Camp and Kirawira Camp. Seronera and Moru area campsites are the best for those on a budget. Kleins Camp is also perfectly situated.tanzania ngorongoro wildlife tours

By late July, by this time the herds now head for Kenya, the grasses of the western Serengeti are yellowing and the herds continue north. After crossing the Grumeti River in Tanzania the wildebeest and zebra head to Lamai Wedge and the Mara Triangle in Kenya. Before they reach the green plains of the Mara, they have to cross the Mara River which is also filled with hungry crocodiles.kenya beach holiday

The best accommodations to watch from the migrating wildebeest cross the Mara River include CC Africa's Kichwa Tembo and Bataleur Camps, the Mara Serena Safari Lodge, and Sayari Mara Camp.3 day kenya safaris.

September through November, the Mara plains are packed to capacity with large herds of ungulates, naturally followed by predators.Gorilla safari holidays

Best places to stay while the migration is in the Mara include the Governors camps and Mara Serena Safari Lodge. In Tanzania, the Kirawira camp, Migration Camp, and Grumeti River Camp and many other camps in and outside Masai Mara national park.

By November/December the rains start in the south (Serengeti) again and the herds embark on their long trek down to the Serengeti plains in Tanzania to have their young (calving). This particular part of the migration can be best watched from Lobo Wildlife Lodge and Klein’s Camp.
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According to the wildebeest movement as detailed above, migration safaris can be conducted from December to March in different places and time on the migration circuit.East African gorillas.

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Air Uganda to start flights to Mombasa

Air Uganda, is set to launch flights to Mombasa. According to Mr Hugh Fraser, Air Uganda chief executive officer, the company will unveil its inaugural flight to Kenya’s coastal town in December.kenya safari costs

This route will operate with three weekly flights every Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday. According to Mr. Fraser, the new Mombasa Entebbe route will cost $299 return,”. Kenya safari holidays

“For the short period we have operated, the company has been able to change the fleet plans and introduced two more 50 seater jets which better suit passenger demands on many routes they have, that has created confidence in our customers who have kept our business going during this hard times. Said Mr. Fraser”. Kenya uganda safari

Air Uganda currently operates scheduled flights from Entebbe to various countries in East Africa including Entebbe, Juba, Nairobi, Dar es Salaam and Zanzibar. The airline projects a 20 per cent passenger increase in the next year. African safari Kenya tour package