Rwanda generated about $161.5 million in revenue from travel services purchased by foreign visitors between November 2025 and January 2026, reflecting continued growth in the country’s tourism economy, according to new data released by the National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda (NISR).
Figures from NISR’s latest Travel Expenditure Survey, as reported by The New Times, show that the earnings represent a 28 percent increase compared with the same period a year earlier, driven by stronger spending by international visitors on accommodation, food and beverages, local transportation, entertainment, shopping, and other tourism-related services.
The survey further indicates that non-resident visitors arriving by air accounted for about 85 percent of the total travel service revenues, underscoring the important role of international air travel in Rwanda’s tourism income and broader service exports.
Travel service exports measure the expenditure of foreign visitors within a country and are a key component of tourism earnings and foreign exchange inflows. Business Insider Africa notes that the latest figures highlight Rwanda’s continued efforts to strengthen its position as a leading tourism destination in East Africa while boosting the contribution of the services sector to national economic growth.
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