Africa-Press – Rwanda. Rwanda has firmly established itself as the second most popular destination for association conferences in Africa, according to the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA).
ICCA, a global community for the international association and meetings industry, ranked Rwanda as the second most popular African country for hosting international meetings, a position it has successfully held for the fourth consecutive year.
The ICCA’s rankings, announced on May 13, evaluate countries based on the number of association meetings they host annually, each attracting at least 50 participants and rotating destinations.
This significant milestone underscores the country’s growing appeal and capacity as a hub for the meetings, incentives, conferences, and events (MICE) industry, Rwanda Convention Bureau (RCB) said.
According to Janet Karemera, the CEO of RCB, “This recognition is a great vote of confidence for us as it demonstrates Rwanda’s growing appeal as a MICE destination and highlights our commitment to excellence in hosting international events.”
Rwanda has registered substantial increase in the number of delegates over the years. The number of delegates attending conferences in Rwanda rose from 35,000 in 2022 to 65,000 in 2023.
Karemera highlighted the significant economic impact, with MICE tourism contributing over $95 million in 2023, a 48 per cent increase from the previous year, accounting for 15 per cent of Rwanda’s tourism revenue.
“We are happy that Kigali retained the second place and that Rwanda was able to climb the ranking ladder. We are working incredibly hard on attaining an even better position through hosting even more association meetings,” she noted
Rwanda’s capital, Kigali, continues to play a big role in this success. The city has consistently maintained its status as a top destination for international meetings, hosting numerous high-profile events.
Among these were the 73rd FIFA Congress, the World Tourism & Travel Council Summit 2023, Women Deliver 2023, the International Congress on Conservation Biology (ICCB), and the World Climate Research Program. Such events have not only elevated Rwanda’s profile but also demonstrated its capability to host large-scale international gatherings.
The RCB’s annual report released in April this year indicates that 2023 was a record-breaking year, with 160 events generating $95 million in revenue.
Looking ahead, more than 90 events are already confirmed for 2024, with projections that successful bids to host 45 additional events could bring in another $32 million over the coming years.
Rwanda generated $64 million in MICE revenue in 2022.
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