Burundi is one of the five member states of the East African Community but little was known about the country’s tourism industry until it attended ITB Berlin — the world’s largest tourism trade fair — and won runner up for best exhibitor, eTurboNews reports.

Burundi’s only national park — Ruvubu — and Rusizi, a nature reserve near the capital of Bujumbura, are two of many places tourists can visit, according to Carmen Nigibira, new director general of the Burundi Tourism Office.

Tourists can also visit the shores of Lake Tanganyika or Karera Falls at the Nyakazu-Nkoma national monument. The country has golf, shopping and unique arts and crafts, according to the report.

Burundi appeared to make little coordinated effort in past years to become more visible and claim its rightful share in East African tourism arrivals, the report said.

“Looking ahead into 2014, we want this to be the year that Burundi fully embraces itself and walks out of the dark shadows of the past,” Nigibira said.

The country seems to have woken up to the fact that tourism has the capacity to create jobs faster than any other economic sector; attract foreign investment in hotels, resorts, and safari lodges; and can vastly improve the foreign exchange earnings for the country, eTurboNews reports.

There has been increased tourism investment in Burundi, driven mainly by local investors, Nigibira said. They “have shown a strong sense of belief in the tourism prospects for Burundi. We do not take this for granted, and that is why we are currently embarking on a tourism inventory process that will see us identify and develop our tourism product so that it first attracts the Burundian people and the expatriate community residents in Burundi, and then going further to attract the regional and international community to Burundi.”

Nigibira congratulated East Africa on the recently-launched single tourism visa and said Burundi will join in and adopt it “as soon as we are able to meet some set guidelines and requirements…We think that this is a huge first step towards joint marketing campaigns for East Africa and will go a long way into helping market East Africa as a single tourism destination.”

Burundi’s tourism office is working with the public and private sector to help rebrand the country as a favorable tourism and investment destination “that should be the pride of all Burundians,” Nigibira said. “We also seek to learn and work closely with our counterparts within the East African region and our message to them is simple: Burundi is part and parcel of the East African Community.”

Promoting travel in Burundi will add value to the economies of East Africa and give visitors to the area a whole new experience, Nigibira said.

 

 

 

“But that should not stop you from coming to Burundi; we welcome you with open arms and hope you get to share with your friends, family, and the entire world your own unique Burundian experience.”

Burundi has launched a new magazine, “Beautiful Burundi 2014” that provides the most comprehensive information and updates about tourism attractions and opportunities in the country, eTurboNews reports. It includes information on culture, art, music, fashion, adventures, attractions, and the general economy.