Rwanda Links Conservation Gains to Tourism Boom Ahead of Gorilla Naming Ceremony
Rwanda’s growing tourism sector and its success in protecting mountain gorillas took centre stage on Tuesday as officials outlined plans for the 21st Kwita Izina ceremony.
Twenty-two baby gorillas will be named on 4 September in Kinigi, Musanze District, in an event that organisers say reflects the close ties between wildlife protection, community development and economic growth.
Speaking at a press conference in Kigali, Eugène Mutangana, Executive Secretary of the Rwanda Nature Foundation, said the annual naming tradition has become a powerful symbol of partnership.
Progress in expanding the mountain gorilla population, creating tourism opportunities and directing greater investment into communities around Volcanoes National Park has been achieved through collective effort, he noted.
Other speakers stressed that sustainable tourism must deliver clear benefits to local people while keeping environmental protection at the heart of Rwanda’s ambition to remain a premium destination.
Tourism revenue reached 685 million dollars in 2025, up from 647 million dollars the previous year, while visitor numbers rose nine percent to 1.49 million.
National parks alone welcomed more than 155,000 visitors and generated about 40.8 million dollars.
Since Kwita Izina began in 2005, 438 baby mountain gorillas have received names.
Organisers say this year’s ceremony will once again bring together government officials, conservation partners, community members and international guests to celebrate both the newest arrivals and the broader model that has helped turn conservation into a driver of national development.
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