In the sector of tourism and travel, a myriad of opportunities exist in the rehabilitation and construction of hotels, restaurants and other tourism infrastructure. DRC’s unique tourist opportunities including wildlife reserves, indigenous cultures, and geological wonders establishes the DRC as a perfect country for those who seek to connect to nature and mankind. Twelve percent of the country is made up of protected areas including 7 national areas and 57reserves with great ecotourism potential. DRC offers a wide range of tourist attractions in different provinces ranging from the seaside to the safaris and cultural structures. DRC caters to the business as well as leisure.
The DRC has four endemic species including Mountain Gorillas, Okapi, Bonobos, and the Congolese peacock. Moreover, the country has a variety of species in its ecosystem covering almost 145 million hectares.
Potentials
12% of the territory established as protected areas;
7 national parks and 57 reservations areas;
Many touristic sites available.
Presence of four endemic species:
Mountain Gorilla, Okapi, Bonobo and Congolese Peacock;
Ecosystem varieties covering almost 145 million ha.
Rehabilitation and construction of hotels, restaurants, protected areas and other touristic infrastructure;
Designing new touristic sites;
Modernization of national parks and joint management opportunity;
Development of eco-tourism;
Construction of hotel in the Virugna Park and a tourist site; Rehabilitation of the botanical EALE garden in Equateur;
Creation of fluvial boating touristic transportation;
Creation of a marina, lakeside transportation and hiking;
Setting up of a cable car in the Virunga Mountains and in the volcanic site with accommodation and catering;
Creation of seaside resorts with beaches, shoreline access camping equipment.
Accommodations
Adventure Tourism and Recreation Attractions Events and Conferences
Food and Beverage
Tourism Services
Transportation
Travel Trade
The DRC has revised in 2013 its master plan projected on 15 years with the following objectives to reach 1,146,962 international tourists futures and revenue of US $ 17.300.000.00 estimated at 10% of the value of the Congolese GDP in 2012.
To generate these flows, the areas of intervention below are concerned:
(1) Promotion and Preservation of the flagship animal species: rehabilitation of national parks, creation of ecological niches, rehabilitation of access roads;
(2) Green Tourism Promotion: Environmental conservation;
(3) Valuation of reserves and natural sites: Creation of recreation sites, amusement parks;
(4) Offer in Tourist transport (air, road, river and lake);
(5) Creation of hosting sites: creation of hotels and hospitality facilities and tourist animation in the perspective of decentralization, the new provinces will need to create luxury hotels;
(6) Creation of services of agencies and tourist offices;
(7) Support for training and promotion of Tourism (Guide, website editing, online travel agency, design and production of promotional materials).
Targeted investment projects depend on the public-private partnership and require feasibility studies.
– 25 million hectares, or 10.47% of the country established in protected areas;
– 7 national parks and 57 Reserves and Hunting Areas including 5 included on the World Heritage list of UNESCO (Virunga*, Kahuzi Biega*, Garamba*, SALONGA* and fauna reserve of Okapi);
– 4 endemic species: Mountain gorilla, Okapi, bonobo (pygmy chimpanzee), Congolese Peacock;- 450 species of mammals, 300 reptile species, 200 amphibian species, and over 1,000 birds species;
– Congo rainforest is the only place in the world where all three subspecies of gorillas that is mountain, lowland and the eastern lowland gorilla;
– Bonobos are found only in the Congo rainforest, they are the closest relatives to human beings;
– Okapi is an animal that looks like a cross between a giraffe and a horse. In fact it is often called forest giraffe. It is brown and has white striped legs;
– A variety of ecosystem covering nearly 145 million hectares, or the second block of tropical forest in the world after the Amazon and one of the biodiversity reserves on the planet;
– Wilderness ((the Congo River, the Atlantic coast (37 km), the impressive waterfalls, lakes and their contours, mountainous areas of East) built (heritage monuments, religious buildings, and cultural (a rich mix of cultures and traditions around 450 ethnic groups), works of art markets, historic sites;
– 70 million people, the Congolese population is a prime target for tourism promoters, especially youth in search of recreation;
– Host infrastructures: 284 airport platforms including 5 international airports, 349 travel agencies in three categories including those affiliated to IATA and other local; 2,365 hotels unclassified and classified with an overall installed capacity of 27,963 home rooms; 4500 km of waterways;
– Several support services to the deployment of tourism activities, among which are: transportation, travel agencies, accommodation and catering.
Peace restoration process in the finals;
Renovation of botanical and zoological gardens of Kinshasa through the Public-Private Partnership;
Modernization of 4 major airports in Kinshasa, Lubumbashi, Goma and Kisangani;
Support to the approval of a hundred tourist investment projects including 85 hotel projects;
Strengthening the capacity with the rehabilitation and modernization of some Hotels of Congolese heritage through the Public-Private partnership, including the three 5 star hotels (Grand Hotel Kinshasa, Fleuve Congo Hotel in Kinshasa;
Grand Karavia Hotel in Lubumbashi);
Creation of a national airline; The reduction to four of the number of public services which shall operate in the border posts (Migration Management, Department of Hygiene, Congolese Control Authority and Customs Authority);
Opening the country to large events and other international forums (forums, conferences, sports, conferences);
Rehabilitation and construction of historical sites and creation of approval public spaces.
Positioned in the heart of Africa, the DRC is found on the Equator and at the crossroads Southern, Central and Eastern Africa. Different provinces connections allow organizing inter-provincial and intra-regional circuits to visit the 11 provinces that border 9 African countries.
Common tourism products with neighboring countries along with the extension of regional destinations are opportunities to enhance existing markets and create new tourism markets in the Great Lakes region, SADC, COMESA and ECCAS to which the DRC belongs.
The DRC continues to attract tourists as it has recorded an increase in migration flow, dominated by youth (over 60% of the population and the middle class), the Congolese Diaspora and international business visitors and cultural enthusiasts.
Legal framework
The revival of tourism has been included among the DRC government’s priorities. This sector, byproduct of the environment, was set up in the Ministry which will incessantly provided with a framework legislation being drafted.