The Rwanda Development Board (RDB) recently announced that the funding was part of the National Strategy for Transformation (NST1), a seven-year development plan that has now been concluded.

The projects have so far resulted in the establishment of 631 hotel rooms along the country’s scenic lakes, including Lake Kivu, Lake Ruhondo, and Lake Burera.

RDB Deputy Chief Executive Officer Juliana Kangeli Muganza said the growth of lakeside tourism is not only diversifying Rwanda’s hospitality offerings but also contributing to broader economic development.

“As more hotels are established to cater to visitors, we see other economic activities emerging,” Muganza said. “These investments are creating jobs and supporting communities.”

Figures from the Rwanda Chamber of Tourism indicate that the number of private tourism establishments rose sharply from 450 in 2018 to 1,360 by 2023. The government now aims to increase the national hotel room capacity from 10,000 to 35,000 over the next five years.

In Karongi District, located along the northern shores of Lake Kivu, authorities report a notable increase in tourism infrastructure. More than 14 hotels are now operational in the district, drawing both leisure and research visitors.

Karongi Mayor Gerald Muzungu said hospitality investments are creating demand in related sectors such as food supply chains, transportation, and construction.

“Hotels are creating demand in food supply chains, transport, and other services, boosting job creation far beyond the hospitality sector,” Muzungu noted.

One of the standout projects is Château Le Marara, a newly opened European-style hotel located on a peninsula in Bwishyura Sector. The facility is already hosting guests and events while sourcing fresh produce from local suppliers, according to interim General Manager Solange Kayondo.

Perched on the hilltops of Karongi, with a perfect view of Lake Kivu, stands a now-famous hotel known as Château le Marara.

Beyond formal employment, the lakeside tourism boom is generating a wave of informal job opportunities. Workers such as painters, masons, and porters are finding steady income from construction and hotel maintenance.

One of the rooms in the luxurious Château Le Marara hotel.

According to RDB, the lakeshore projects completed so far have created approximately 364 jobs, with another 400 positions expected as ongoing projects are finalised.

Sector outlook

The broader hospitality and tourism sector in Rwanda currently employs around 165,000 people, a number that is projected to rise with the ongoing expansion of infrastructure and services.

Officials say lakeside tourism will remain a central pillar in Rwanda’s long-term economic development strategy, with plans to deepen investments and promote sustainable, community-driven growth.

Rwanda has invested over $106 million in lakeside hospitality and tourism projects over the past five years, a move that officials say is driving job creation, stimulating local economies, and attracting further investment.