Membership

Membership application is open to companies registered in Rwanda to offer tourism and travel services with the aims of encouraging quality, professional and responsible services in Rwanda.

  1. Definition: A tour operator is defined herein, as one who makes arrangements for transport, accommodation, sight seeing, entertainment and other tourism related services for tourists in Rwanda.
  2. A travel operator.
  3. All applications for recognition shall be addressed to the President RTTA, who will upon receipt direct the request to the committee in charge of entry and checking standard.
  4. The following conditions must be fulfilled by the Tour And Travel Operator for grant of recognition, entry and being a member of RTTA:
    • The application for grant of recognition and entry shall file a request to the President of RTTA and be in the prescribed form, signed and submitted in duplicate to the secretariat of RTTA.
    • The Tour and Travel operator should be registered to carry out tourism business as a tour and travel operator and authentically registered for commerce in Rwanda, herewith present a copy of register de commerce and memorandum and articles of association.
    • The Tour and Travel operator should have;
      1. An office and address
      2. Full time member of their staff, who is adequately trained and experienced in matters regarding transport, accommodation, currency, customs regulations and general information about travel and tourism operation and related services in Rwanda and the region as a whole. However, greater emphasis may be given to effective communication skills and knowledge of foreign language that is English or French, both being an added value
    • There should be a minimum of two qualified staff out of which at least one should have Diploma/Degree in Tourism and or Travel from a recognised university, or institution recognised in Rwanda or has a sound relevant experience in tourism or tour and travel operating business.
    • The Operator should have minimum means of transport, at least one (4WD Car) ready for use and will be inspected by the committee.
    • The operator should have an office within Kigali or outside Kigali, besides the office should be located in neat and clean surroundings and equipped with telephone, fax and computer reservation system etc. There should be sufficient space for reception and easy access to toilets.
    • The operator should have information dissemination and or marketing mechanisms, which in this case “a website in place to operate and reach tourism easily”.
    • The operator should demonstrate a long term commitment and passion in tourism operation and a marketing strategy.
    • The operator should have a risk mitigation mechanism in place and or first aid kits and or training to deal with risks pertaining from tourism operations.
    • The operator should have a sound environmental protocol that seeks to ensure that human activities, including tourism do not harm, and or cause adverse effects on our environment, nor on its scientific and aesthetical values. The operator therefore should prevent the disposal and discharge of prohibited waste and inform clients in advance.
  5. The recognition as Approved member shall be granted entry for three years and renewal every year on an application made by the tour operator along with the required fee.
  6. The operator will be required to pay a non-refundable fee: Membership fee: 1000 USD in two instalments, Registration fee 250 USD. The fee will be made payable to the RTTA secretariat, who will issue a receipt upon payment.
  7. The operator granted recognition of entry shall be entitled to such incentives and concessions as may be granted by Government from time to time and shall abide by the terms and conditions of recognition as prescribed from time to time by the RTTA, general guidelines and code of conduct required in the tourism and travel industry.
  8. The decision of the entry committee of RTTA in the matter of recognition shall be final. However, RTTA general assembly may in their discretion refuse to recognise any tour operator or withdraw/withhold at any time recognition already granted with the approval of the Competent Authority. Before such a decision is taken, necessary show cause notice would invariably be issued and the reply considered on merit. This will be done after careful consideration and generally as a last resort. Circumstances in which withdrawal is resorted would also be indicated and the member shall be informed in writing.
  9. In case of disagreement, an arbitration committee within and outside RTTA shall be called to resolve the matter.
  10. From time of entry, the RTTA monitoring committee, shall continue to monitor the efficiency and efficacy of the tour and travel operators and shall advise the RTTA on the performance of all operators for annual evaluation.