Rwanda Climbs to 2nd Place in Africa for Hosting Association Conferences
Rwanda has ascended to become the second most popular destination for association conferences in Africa, as per the latest rankings by the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA).
The ICCA, a leading global community for the international association and meetings industry, has consistently ranked Rwanda as the third most popular African country for hosting association meetings since 2016. This year’s announcement on May 13 marks a significant milestone as Rwanda moved up one position.
The ICCA rankings evaluate countries based on the number of association meetings they host annually, each attracting at least 50 participants and rotating locations.
This achievement underscores Rwanda’s growing reputation and capacity as a hub for the meetings, incentives, conferences, and events (MICE) industry, according to the Rwanda Convention Bureau (RCB).
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Janet Karemera, CEO of RCB, expressed pride in the recognition, stating, “This recognition is a great vote of confidence for us as it demonstrates Rwanda’s growing appeal as a MICE destination and highlights our commitment to excellence in hosting international events.”
Rwanda has seen a substantial increase in the number of delegates over the years, with attendees rising from 35,000 in 2022 to 65,000 in 2023. Karemera highlighted the significant economic impact, with MICE tourism contributing over $95 million in 2023—a 48 percent increase from the previous year—accounting for 15 percent of Rwanda’s tourism revenue.
“We are happy that Kigali retained the second place and that Rwanda was able to climb the ranking ladder. We are working incredibly hard on attaining an even better position through hosting even more association meetings,” she noted.
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Rwanda’s capital, Kigali, continues to play a crucial role in this success. The city has maintained its status as a premier destination for international meetings, hosting numerous high-profile events such as the 73rd FIFA Congress, the World Tourism & Travel Council Summit 2023, Women Deliver 2023, the International Congress on Conservation Biology (ICCB), and the World Climate Research Program. These events have not only elevated Rwanda’s profile but also demonstrated its capability to host large-scale international gatherings.
According to the RCB’s annual report released in April, 2023 was a record-breaking year with 160 events generating $95 million in revenue. Looking ahead, over 90 events are already confirmed for 2024, with successful bids to host an additional 45 events projected to bring in another $32 million over the coming years.
In 2022, Rwanda generated $64 million in MICE revenue, reflecting its rapid growth in this sector.
