Rwanda: A visa-free destination for traveling Pinoys. But is it accessible?

KIGALI, Rwanda — Traveling to a foreign country remains a luxury to many Filipinos, but some nations and non-governmental organizations are making some efforts to make visiting African destinations less of a hassle.

Rwanda, a country marred with a history of genocide due to its 1994 civil war, is currently making strides in modernization and development — with some even hailing it as the "Singapore of Africa."

"Over 30 years ago, there was no tourism sector to talk about [here]," said Rwanda Development Board CEO Francis Gatare during the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) Global Summit 2023 held in Kigali last Wednesday.

“[Now], it employs more than 200,000 people in the tourism sector. Direct employment. And [it employs] more than 500,000 [people] indirectly.”

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“Everywhere you go, you’re welcome.”

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WTTC chair Arnold Donald explained that they chose Rwanda as the host of this year’s WTTC Global Summit since the event has never been hosted in an African country in its 23 years of existence.

He added that it’s about time for the world to see how the once war-torn country evolved into a “world-class and sustainable nation.”

“So many people still think of Africa from TV shots from years ago,” Donald said.

“They don’t have an understanding at all of what modern Africa is.”

But first thing’s first: what’s in store for Filipino tourists here?

Rwanda is known for its wildlife, safari adventures and many more nature-oriented activities. Destinations include the Nyungwe Forest National Park, Akagera National Park, Gishwati Mukura National Park and Volcanoes National Park. 

To give you a picture, an entrance fee into the Akagera National Park costs $100 (around P5,600) for adult foreigners, while kids aged 6-12 can come in for half the price at $50 (around P2,800). This however doesn’t include other fees.

One of the more famous activities in the Volcanoes National Park is its “Gorilla trekking.” However, be prepared to shell out $1,500 in tourist fees (around P85,000) if you’re a foreigner. The proceeds of which are said to