Rwanda and Tanzania have recently launched an ambitious joint project to upgrade transport connectivity and Boosting Regional Travel in particular, by improving rail and air links. Thanks to this strategic move, regional travel will become easier, faster and cheaper. The project will benefit tourists, business travelers and the local communities within East Africa by making travel more convenient and providing better access to the cultural and natural resources of the region.

Convenient Journeys, Rail and Air Links

For years, those traveling between Rwanda and Tanzania, especially through Dar es Salaam, have had to contend with high costs, long travel hours and restricted means of transport. All too often, travellers and local businesses became frustrated. But that is bound to change with the expansion of Tanzania’s Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) and construction of improved air routes. These improvements will deliver a quicker, greener transport system, slashing journey times and reducing the cost of cross-border travel. For tourists wanting to visit one country followed by the other, it’s a game-changer, cutting the cost of transiting between the two nations.

By linking major cities and airports, these improved transportation options will make it easier for you to travel between Rwanda’s capital, Kigali and Tanzania’s busy towns such as Dar es Salaam and Arusha. Cheap air fares and direct additional frequencies will make air travel cheaper and with the sprawl of railway network, travelers looking for less rushed, scenic and eco-friendly mode of travel will find railways as a less expensive option, sources at the planning commission confirmed.

Unlocking Regional Tourism Opportunities

Perhaps one of the best byproducts of these improved connections is the ability for regional tourism to flourish. Rwanda and Tanzania both offer unforgettable tourist experiences, with Rwanda’s exceptional wildlife and rich culture and Tanzania’s fabulous safaris and unspoiled coastline. With better transport the visitors are able to plan multi-country trip with ease. It would be possible, for example, to enjoy a safari in Tanzania’s Serengeti or Ngorongoro Crater then board a train to Rwanda to trek to see the endangered mountain gorillas in Volcanoes National Park.

This new accessible travel will not just appeal to international tourists but finally allow the region to be discovered by more East African travelers. By linking Rwanda and Tanzania more efficiently, the two countries are generating a shared tourism arena, allowing travelers to explore seamlessly the greatest attributes of both countries. Similarly, regional tourism packages such as combined marketing could further enhance East Africa’s competitiveness as one of the world’s prime travel destinations.

Economic Empowerment Through Better Connectivity

The drive to improve connectivity between Rwanda and Tanzania is not just about tourism, but also jobs and income generation. Better rail and air connections should help to bring down business transport costs, lowering prices and opening up markets. For example, farmers in rural Rwanda could more easily ship agricultural products to markets in Tanzania and beyond and Tanzanian exporters could also more readily access the Rwandan market. It potentially can enhance commerce and increase cross-border economic activity, which can contribute to local economy development on both borders.

Shifting the Regional Travel Landscape

Trade between car importers within Africa is minimal for historical reasons, Africa’s transportation networks, largely laid out by colonial powers, were based on getting minerals and other goods between the continent and former colonial metropoles, not on intra-African mobility. This has retarded regional integration and economic growth. With the Rwanda-Tanzania initiative, East Africa is starting to think big, building more of a linked, coherent tourism network. This collaboration is an example of what can be achieved by African countries when they work together to increase connections and make regional travel for both local and international passengers more accessible and appealing.

The Future of Regional East African Travel

Efforts to improve the flow of goods and people between Rwanda and Tanzania are just the start of a much larger regional change. East Africa is expected to become one of the biggest destination for global travels as the cost for traveling decreases as well as the easier access. The cultural, historical and natural experiences across these nations, which are now more accessible than ever before, will be irresistible to both tourists and investors.

The post Rwanda and Tanzania Push for Better Connectivity, Boosting Regional Travel – What You Should Know appeared first on Travel And Tour World.