The development of joint marketing campaigns and cross-border conservation and tourism initiatives has been recognised as a key pillar of the US-backed Regional Economic Integration Framework (REIF) signed as part of the peace deal between the DRC and Rwanda on December 4.
The REIF states that both countries intend to cooperate in strengthening cross-border conservation and park management activities, focused on Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park and the DRC’s Virunga National Park.
“The participants commit to position the Greater Virunga Landscape as a unified, world-class ecotourism destination by leveraging shared assets and coordinated governance,” the REIF highlights.
The Greater Virunga Landscape – which also encompasses Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable National Park – is home to the world’s entire population of over 1 000 mountain gorillas.
Under the REIF, the countries commit to work together to “implement reforms that allow locals and international visitors to the region to enjoy one of the planet’s premier tourism destinations with unique opportunities to safely and sustainably visit mountain gorillas and other wildlife, explore pristine forests and wilderness and hike volcanoes on both sides of the border”.
The REIF suggests a three-phase approach to achieving these goals, starting with the reinforcement of existing mechanisms for transboundary cooperation on conservation, security, investment and park management. Surveillance, enforcement and joint biodiversity monitoring would be implemented during this phase.
The second phase would build on these measures and involve the creation of a bilateral commission (advised by the private sector and other experts) to discuss safe, sustainable and responsible cross-border tourism. This would involve a unified approach to tourism standards, joint product pricing and revenue-sharing models, joint investment in necessary infrastructure and the creation of a joint visa regime for tourists visiting the parks.
The third phase highlights collaboration with experienced tourism companies to develop a harmonised tourism strategy and embark on joint marketing campaigns and participation in international trade shows.
“The participants ensure local communities benefit through employment opportunities, equitable revenue sharing and alignment of tourism investments with conservation and community development plans and seek opportunities to extend successful conservation cooperation to other areas like Kahuzi-Biega National Park, Itombwe Reserve or Nyungwe National Park,” the REIF outlines.
