Since after the mass destruction of the 1994 genocide, the Rwanda government has undertaken extreme measures for the restoration and stimulation of economic development in the country. As a result of its efforts, the government has been able to boost Rwanda Tourism industry as it’s apparently the major economic sector of the country.
Rwandan Tourism is based on a vast number of tourist attractions like endangered species of mountain gorillas at the Volcanoes National Park, Chimpanzees in Nyungwe Tropical Rainforest, Golden monkey tracing, Akagera National Park wildlife safaris, community nature walks and genocide memorial sites among others. Minus these, there are quite many other interesting expeditions that can be encountered while on a visit in Rwanda such as medical tourism which is an upcoming / a newly introduced factor / attraction in the country.And this comes as a result of Rwanda’s desire to increase it tourist potential in East Africa so as to have increased numbers of travellers yearly.
Why Medical Tourism?
It is evident that many country natives see for medical treatment from other countries like Asia., Europe,among others neglecting their country due to lack of vast developed medical facilities and this leads to loss of large sums of money to the country( while on the other hand contributing large amounts of foreign earning to the receiving countries abroad). And if these high quality medical facilities are established in Rwanda, she too will receive large sums of foreign earning hence boosting her economy.
Medical Tourism as a factor in the tourism industry can not only bring in foreign earning to the country but also maintain / increase local earning as the people stay within their country boundaries and make use of these services. In addition it can act as a bait for other economic developments especially in the tourism industry as people visiting the country for medical attention may need accommodation facilities which when used stimulate the country’s economy, others use this chance to look around for the interesting spots of the country and when identified, they plan on visiting again for tourism services.
The Rwandan government believes that by triggering medical development in the country, many people will be attracted to the country for medical services that will lead to further development of the country. And this will bring more attention to the tourism sector as well as people will also look out for the natural beauty of the country in the long run.Therefore , establishing first class medical facilities in the country is a way of having the tourism sector diversified other than limiting it to services from nature and wildlife.
As for now, Rwanda has countable internationally recognized medical facilities but the government has great plans of establishing more standard facilities that will attract a number of people starting with the local Rwandese and the citizens from Rwanda’s immediate neighbors (Uganda, Burundi, Tanzania and Democratic Republic of Congo).
By medical tourism, the government is considering all that may entail a standard medical facility, and therefore, looks into providing efficient and effective services and to do so, a well-equipped medical staff is needed. Rwanda as a country is working on putting up standard medical schools to produce well trained and skilled medical personnel, importing skilled medical labour from abroad as well as encouraging foreign investors into the medical industry / sector.
In addition, Rwanda is characterized by favorable climate conditions good for all people from around the world. It is also characterized with good hospitality especially from the country natives that are warm and welcoming and easy to associate with. The country is also comprised of a good transport network with well-established and developed roads connecting to many parts of the country, well established airports, a clean and developed city that is emphasized by the national cleaning day the “Omuganda” a cleaning day scheduled on every last Saturday of month in which every Rwandese is involved which all create a conducive environment for medical facility and patients as well.
Medical tourism is a very good way of attracting tourists in such large numbers in a country and Rwanda is highly recommended to pay maximum attention in its development.