Industry reacts to Rwandan permit increase

Source: Tourism Update, 27/06/2017

Rwanda’s permit hikes may be in response to the surge in high-end
tourism development.
The recent doubling of Rwandas gorilla permits from $750 to $1 500 has
resulted in concerns from some operators over the potential impact of
the increase.
For Debbie Addison Director of Wild Frontiers the permit increase
means turning a dream into something that may be unattainable for
people who really want to see gorillas in their natural habitat.
Betty Jo Currie Founder of Currie and Co Travels shares a similar
view. I am sad to see a continuing polarisation between haves and have
nots. This will clearly affect people for whom this is a bucket list
item but who were travelling on a budget.
Addison and Currie say although the increase is high some guests are
not concerned. They say their clients are concerned about value rather
than cost and will continue to book gorilla trekking experiences. But
Addison adds that some travellers have been put off by the more
expensive permit price.
She says it is rare for guests to book Rwanda on its own. Sadly very
few guests book Rwanda as a destination in its entirety. I believe a
lot of guests went there as it was an easy add-on to Kenya and
Tanzanians big game safaris. Most of our bookings to Rwanda are in and
out gorillas.
An indirect motivation behind the increase may be the rise in luxury
operators building in Rwanda. Addison says: The new lodges price
points attract clientele that can afford the $1 500 permit. Currie
agrees: I suspect that rather than being behind the fee hike the new
luxury lodges have proved to the Rwandan government that the market
will support a fee increase.
However even though some businesses may be able to absorb the price
increase it is likely to have a negative effect on middle and lower
range tourism options. The lodges the local operators even the staff
working directly with gorillas (trackers/porters etc). As the volume
of people (tourists) now able and willing to enjoy this activity may
reduce this will likely have a knock on effect throughout the industry
says Addison. If numbers of guests trekking reduce so will the share
of local income from those guests. Curios porters staff working in
tourism in the area will start to feel the reduction as we move into
low season this year and into 2018.
Addison says this could be positive for Ugandan tourism. Uganda offers
a more rounded safari experience and generally people will go there to
see primates birds game and culture and spend up to 10 days or more
taking in the country and its offerings. With Uganda recently
confirming prices at $600 for the next two years I believe that the
country will pick up business from Rwanda.