Twenty-two baby mountain gorillas will receive names this year, the Rwanda Development Board (RDB) has announced, as the country gears up for the 21st edition of Kwita Izina on 4 September 2026 in Kinigi, on the edge of Volcanoes National Park.
These new arrivals add to the 438 mountain gorillas that have been named since Kwita Izina began in Rwanda in 2005.
Tourism brought in more than $685 million for Rwanda in 2025, up from $647 million in 2024, revenue generated by the 1.49 million tourists who visited the country that year.
That income also came from tourism activity across Rwanda’s national parks, which together welcomed 155,394 visitors over the course of the year.
This comes alongside strong growth in conference tourism: in 2025, Rwanda hosted 165 international conferences, drawing more than 61,000 delegates and generating $94.7 million in revenue.
Northern Province Governor Maurice Mugabowagahunde highlighted the significance of the ceremony for the communities that host it each year: “Kwita Izina is a great source of pride, especially for the people of the Northern Province. More broadly, it demonstrates the remarkable progress Rwanda has made in conserving the mountain gorillas and protecting our biodiversity, while bringing more visitors and partners to be part of this journey.”
He also pointed to Kwita Izina’s visible impact stretching from the city of Musanze all the way to Volcanoes National Park, noting that Musanze alone now has more than 52 star-rated hotels, built to meet growing demand from tourism.
The ceremony is expected to draw more than 10,000 attendees this year, all of whom will need transport, accommodation, and places to eat.
Eugène Mutangana, Executive Secretary of the Rwanda Nature Foundation, said Rwanda’s experience shows the direct link between conservation and economic opportunity: “For over two decades, Kwita Izina has showcased Rwanda’s belief that conservation is not simply about protecting wildlife. It is about creating opportunities for people, supporting communities, growing tourism and ensuring that future generations inherit a healthy and thriving natural environment.”
He added that Rwanda’s tourism performance reflects the strength of its conservation-led model: “Mountain gorilla trekking remains Rwanda’s leading tourism attraction, while continued investment across our national parks is helping diversify visitor experiences and position Rwanda among the world’s leading high-value nature tourism destinations.”
Mutangana also pointed to Rwanda’s partnerships with international sports clubs, including Arsenal FC and, more recently, Aston Villa, as part of what continues to drive tourism growth and revenue.
On 14 July 2026, Visit Rwanda entered into a partnership with Aston Villa, making Visit Rwanda the club’s Principal Partner, Official Tourism Partner, and Official Coffee Provider. Under the deal, the Visit Rwanda brand will appear on the front of shirts across all of Aston Villa’s teams, men’s, women’s, and youth, as well as in other key spaces.
Visit Rwanda already holds partnerships with Paris Saint-Germain of France and Atlético de Madrid of Spain.