Great news from RwandAir with the airline offering special fares to Rwanda to mark the 2022 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) being held in the nation’s capital this month.
The airline is offering both additional flights from London Heathrow to Kigali and a 15 per cent discount to bookings made online on RwandAir’s website or via the airline’s mobile app. The promo code is CHOGM22 with a discount of 15% and applies to base fare only. Taxes, fees, and surcharges are not discountable.
The special discount is valid up until 25 June 2022. Travel period is from 6 June to 10 July 2022. To benefit from the discount, insert the promo code (CHOGM22) on the website or mobile app at the point of booking and the code discounts the current selling fare.
(Credit: Reagan M on Unsplash)
World leaders to gather in Rwanda
The Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) is a biennial summit of leaders from all Commonwealth nations. It is hosted by different member countries on a rotating basis. The 2022 edition will take place from 20-25 June 2022, in the capital of Rwanda.
CHOGM will be held at the Kigali Conference Centre at the Kigali Conference and Exhibition Village (KCEV). The official opening of CHOGM takes place on Friday 24 June and is followed by the main high-level meetings. There will also be four major Forums, ministerial meetings, side events and a host of diverse activities covering topics ranging from mental health to fashion.
Tourism opportunities
(Credit: Andrew Molo on Unsplash)
Rwanda is set to see its tourism profile rise with the arrival of world leaders and thousands of delegates for the summit. James Munyaneza, editor of The New Times in Rwanda, in a recent opinion piece, highlighted the importance of the summit for tourism, writing: “Positive customer experience in the coming months is key for the country’s short term and medium term tourism sector ambitions as it will inform the reputation of clients and chances of repeat customers.” Not only will visitors have the chance to explore the attractive capital of Kigali, but pre- and post-summit tours offer the opportunity to view the abundant wildlife of national parks, the tranquillity of Lake Kivu or discover the intriguing story of the coffee estates that flourish across the ‘Land of a Thousand Hills’.
According to the Rwanda Development Board, the country’s tourism revenues increased by 25 percent from 131 million U.S. dollars in 2020 to 164 million U.S. dollars in 2021 despite the travel dislocation arising from the pandemic. The Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE) sector generated 12.5 million U.S. dollars in 2021 compared to 5.4 million U.S. dollars in 2020.
Entry requirements
The country has one of the most visitor-friendly border services in east Africa. Nationals of the African Union, Commonwealth and Francophonie member states can get a 30-day visa on arrival. No payment is required. Nationals of all other countries can receive visas on arrival at Kigali International Airport and all land borders. The following costs apply:
A single entry tourist visa costs 50 U.S. dollars (exclusions apply for select countries) and is valid for 30 days.
A single entry conference visa costs 30 U.S. dollars and is valid for 30 days.
A multiple entry business visa costs 50 U.S dollars and is valid for one year.
The East African Tourist Visa (EATV) covers Rwanda, Kenya and Uganda, costs US $100 and is valid for 90 days.
CHOGM 2022 delegates are responsible for ensuring they have the correct visa for travel. Visitors to Rwanda should ensure they have a valid passport (not less than 6 months to expiry), confirmation of registration to CHOGM and an accommodation booking ready on arrival.
CHOGM 2022. (Credit: Reagan M on Unsplash)
For more information:
RwandAir
Visit Rwanda
CHOGM
Top image: Kigali City Tower (Credit: One Zone Studio on Unsplash)
