Gorilla tourism generated nearly $45.7 million, equivalent to more than Rwf65 billion, for Rwanda in the second quarter of 2026, accounting for a significant share of the country’s travel earnings.
The figures are contained in the Travel Expenditure Survey 2026 released by the National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda (NISR), which shows that visitors who came to Rwanda by air for leisure spent $57.6 million between April and June.
Of that amount, 79.4% was linked to trips to see mountain gorillas.
Overall, Rwanda earned $161.8 million from travel services during the three-month period. Spending associated with gorilla tourism therefore accounted for about 28% of the country’s total travel-service earnings.
NISR says the figure goes beyond the cost of gorilla trekking permits. It includes tourists’ spending on accommodation, food, transport, shopping, entertainment and other services during their visits.
North Americans led visitor numbers and spending
Data from the Directorate General of Immigration and Emigration shows that 6,023 visitors who entered Rwanda by air between April and June identified gorilla tourism as the main purpose of their trips.
North Americans accounted for the largest share, with 3,469 visitors, followed by Europeans with 1,008.
Visitors from North America also recorded the highest spending on air travel to Rwanda during the quarter, at $40.2 million.
Overall, tourism and leisure travel generated $59.7 million in travel receipts during the second quarter, making it the largest category among the purposes for which visitors travelled to Rwanda.
Rwanda’s total earnings from travel services rose from $151.4 million in the first quarter of 2026 to $161.8 million in the second quarter.
The latest figures show the broader economic impact of gorilla tourism, with visitor spending extending beyond trekking permits to accommodation, transport, food, shopping and other services across the tourism value chain.
