The Government says it will develop Mukura-Gishwati forests — home to chimpanzees — into a national park as it seeks to diversify its tourist products that could make visitors stay longer and spend more in Rwanda.

The government is also looking for land to expand Virunga Park, in order to increase the number of mountain gorillas, which are endangered.

“We are diversifying our products to ensure tourists stay longer and spend more in the country,” said Emmanuel Hategeka chief operating officer of the Rwanda Development Board.

Unlike its East African neighbours including Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania, which boast vast tourist attractions and products, tour operators complain that Rwanda has few.

Thus, tourists spend fewer days and limit their spending.

Rwanda has three National Parks including Nyungwe Forest, Akagera and Volcanoes, which offer the same tourist products like regional neighbours.

Infrastructure

Mr Hategeka said the government has secured funds to finance infrastructure development at the park including a reception area, visitors’ experience spaces and access roads.

The Rwanda Development Board also says they plan to expand the Virunga National Park area by 25,000 hectares this year to accommodate the growing number of mountain gorillas.

Data from Rwanda Development Board shows that the mountain gorilla population has increased to 604 as of June 2016 from 480 in 2010. But, this increase has been posing serious conservation challenges on the park due to encroachment.

While the government has not come up with official figures about how many people will be relocated, experts say based on the country’s population density estimated at 483 per sq km in 2016, at least 2,500 households could be displaced.

The Virunga Massif is comprised of Mikeno Sector of Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in Uganda. Mountain gorilla numbers in the entire area had reduced to as low as 242 in 1981.