(eTN) – Information made public yesterday in Kigali show a continued strong sectoral growth for the tourism sector in Rwanda, which besides exports of tea and coffee, continues to form a backbone for the country’s economy. Tourism receipt figures given by the Minister of Trade and Industry, Francois Kanimba, presently stand at US$252 million for tourism-related receipts, up from US$227 million a year ago and ahead of the projected US$244 million.

General exports grew over the same period of time from US$305 million to US$429 million this year, a sign of sustained success in promoting both traditional as well as non-traditional exports to regional and global markets.

The Rwanda Development Board’s Tourism and Conservation Department is set to establish a formal office to promote MICE business, aimed to bring convention and meeting business to Rwanda, and when the new Marriott Hotel will open in early 2013, additional conference facilities and top of the ranks room capacity will not only need to be filled but offer the long-awaited boost to Kigali to more effectively capture this lucrative market.