More than Rwf 1.2 billion generated from tourism at Nyungwe National Park will be invested in six community development projects in neighbouring districts, authorities have said.
The funding, provided through Rwanda’s tourism revenue-sharing programme, targets districts bordering the park, Karongi, Rusizi, Nyamasheke, Nyaruguru and Nyamagabe, and aims to improve livelihoods while strengthening conservation efforts.
The projects were selected by the Rwanda Development Board (RDB) in collaboration with park management and local government officials, and have been included in RDB’s 2025/2026 budget. Two projects will be implemented in Karongi District, while the remaining four will be distributed across Rusizi, Nyamasheke, Nyaruguru and Nyamagabe.
Under the allocation, Nyamasheke District will receive Rwf 375 million, Rusizi Rwf 228 million, Nyamagabe and Nyaruguru Rwf 268 million each, while Karongi will receive Rwf 107 million.
Local leaders say the funds will support key social and economic infrastructure. In Rusizi District, the money will be used to expand Rasano Health Centre to improve access to healthcare and reduce long-distance travel for residents, according to Vice Mayor Alfred Habimana. Previous allocations have supported agriculture, livestock projects and housing for vulnerable families.
In Karongi District, Vice Mayor Julienne Ntakirutimana said the funding will finance the distribution of 100 pigs to households in Mutuntu Sector and the construction of three classrooms in Twumba Sector.
Tourism at Nyungwe National Park has grown significantly over the past two decades. According to the National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda (NISR), visitor numbers rose from 2,386 in 2005 to 29,667 in 2024, with a sharp increase following the park’s designation as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2023.
Protais Niyigaba, Chief Finance Officer at Nyungwe National Park, said the park is expected to generate more than USD 3.4 million in tourism revenue this year. As revenues have increased, so has community funding—rising from Rwf 50 million in 2008 to Rwf 1.2 billion in 2025.
Since the revenue-sharing programme was launched in 2005, more than Rwf 4.5 billion has been invested in development projects for communities surrounding the park, a move officials say has strengthened local participation in conservation.
The growth in visitor numbers has been supported by the Visit Rwanda campaign and increased investment in tourism infrastructure, including the Canopy Walkway, zipline, hiking trails, lodges and restaurants. Authorities say Nyungwe National Park aims to raise annual tourism revenue to USD 5 million by 2030, with the zipline alone expected to attract about 9,000 visitors annually.
