Rwanda wins the Most Distinctive Tourist Award at Guangzhou International Travel Fair 2019 (GITF) in Southern China.

From 21 to 23 February 2019, Rwanda Embassy in China with the support of Rwanda Development Board participated in the Guangzhou International Travel Fair 2019 Exhibition in Guangzhou City.

Founded in 1993 and organized by Guangzhou Municipal Culture, Radio, Television and Tourism Bureau, Guangzhou International Travel Fair is one of the most influential travel fairs in southern China. It is an annual event that brings together domestic and foreign exhibitors to introduce and promote their products.

This year, the Guangzhou International Travel Fair Exhibition attracted more than one thousand companies from 55 countries and regions. At the exhibition, the Embassy promoted tourism products, Made in Rwanda products, and RwandAir which will soon start flights to Guangzhou, the capital city Guangdong Province.

During this expo, Rwanda was recognized as the ‘Most Distinctive Tourist Destination. Last year, more than 8000 Chinese tourists visited Rwanda and numbers are projected to increase in 2019.

Speaking to media, Ambassador Charles Kayonga said that, RwandAir’s planned flights to Guangzhou, will facilitate trade and boost tourism investment. The RwandAir route will also boost China - Africa trade in general.

The Ambassador added that it has become more convenient for Chinese tourists to travel to Rwanda as they can now book Rwandan tourism products online through the Visit Rwanda Flagship Store on Fliggy, Alibaba’s Tourism Platform.  

During the exhibition, tourism investment and Made in Rwanda products were carried out through live streaming on Chinese social media and attracted millions of viewers whose questions were answered in real time.

Rwanda cultural dance attracted Chinese exhibitors and exhibition visitors alike. “I wish to visit Rwanda again very soon, your country is very beautiful and you have an amazing culture” Mr. Li Chenggang the Chief of Tuanjie Village in Southern China said after watching the Rwandan traditional dance performance at the exhibition. Mr. Li Chenggang who visited Rwanda in 2017 said that as soon as RwandAir start direct flights to Guangzhou, he will take all the people in his village to visit Rwanda, adding that they have agriculture companies who are looking forward to invest in Rwanda.  

Meanwhile, Rwanda is preparing to participate in the 2019 International Horticultural Exhibition which will be held in Beijing and the China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo which will be held in Changsha, Capital City of Hunan Province in South Central China.

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