Rwanda generated $579.5 million from international visitor spending in 2024, marking a moderate rise from $563.8 million the previous year, according to newly released data from the National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda (NISR).
The figures, published in NISR’s latest Travel Expenditure Survey, reflect continued momentum in the country’s tourism and services sector. The data, collected between November 2024 and January 2025, offers a full-year overview of foreign visitor spending patterns.
Leisure travel remained the leading driver of revenue, followed by visits to friends and relatives (VFR) and business travel. Spending was tracked across several categories, including accommodation, food and beverages, local transport, shopping, health and education services, entertainment, and sightseeing. The estimates do not include international travel costs such as airfare.
Meanwhile, Rwandan residents spent $363.8 million abroad on similar services, leaving the country with a net travel services surplus of $215.6 million for the year.
In the final quarter of 2024 alone, Rwanda earned $126.1 million from travel services, with holidaymakers contributing $56.2 million. Arrival data showed 76,438 non-residents entering by air and 248,646 by land. Over the same period, 56,324 Rwandans returned home via air travel, and 339,110 crossed land borders.
In the first quarter of the year, outbound travel expenditure by Rwandans stood at $91 million, with business-related travel accounting for $36.3 million of the total.
NISR noted that the findings provide valuable insights for policymakers, investors, and tourism operators. With the travel industry playing a key role in Rwanda’s economic strategy, the data is expected to inform more effective planning and resource allocation.
As African nations compete to expand their tourism footprints, Rwanda’s performance underscores the value of strategic investment in travel infrastructure, destination marketing, and visitor experience.