The Carnival Corporation & PLC, currently the world’s largest travel leisure company on Wednesday committed to invest “shortly” in Rwanda’s tourism, according to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the company, Arnold Donald.
In a bid to fast-track the deal, Rwandan officials have agreed to ease the business regarding investment norms in the proposed operations by the British-American cruise operator.
A statement issued by Rwanda Development Board (RDB) said Rwanda’s tourism offerings and investment opportunities were presented at the occasion.
The company did not disclose the investment Carnival Corporation & plc is the world’s largest leisure travel company and among the most profitable and financially strong in the cruise and vacation industries, with a portfolio of 10 dynamic brands that include nine of the world’s leading cruise lines.
Together, the corporation’s cruise lines operate 103 ships with 234,000 lower berths visiting over 700 ports around the world, with 22 new ships scheduled to be delivered between 2018 and 2025.
Rwanda is ranked 29 among 190 economies in the ease of doing business, according to the latest World Bank annual ratings.
Tourism is Rwanda’s largest foreign exchange earner and has generated over 90,000 jobs so far, according to Rwanda Development Board.
CU/abj/APA