The Travel Expenditure Survey Report provides quarterly estimates of total travel expenditures for the first semester of 2026, covering 2026Q1 and 2026Q2.
In 2026Q1 and 2026Q2, the total travel export/credit was 151.4 million USD and 161.8 million USD, while the total import/debit stood at 98.1 million USD and 99.7 million USD respectively.
Travelers using air transport mode generated 83.7 percent of export/credit transactions compared to 76.4 percent for import/debit transactions.
On average, among non-Rwandan residents travelling by land, the primary purpose of stay in Rwanda was education (121 days), with the largest number of stays from the rest of Africa (190 days).
TABLE: Average length of stay of non-resident visitors to Rwanda, Air
| Country grouping | Business | Education | Health | Holiday | Transit | VFR |
| Asia | 10 | 49 | 7 | 10 | 2 | 14 |
| EAC | 5 | 117 | 19 | 7 | 1 | 8 |
| Europe | 12 | 47 | 40 | 10 | 1 | 18 |
| North America | 11 | 36 | - | 12 | 1 | 17 |
| Rest of Africa | 7 | 66 | 30 | 6 | 1 | 14 |
| Rest of the world | 8 | - | - | 9 | 1 | 14 |
Similarly, among non-residents exiting by air, the majority stayed in Rwanda primarily for educational purposes (72 days), with visitors from the EAC recording the largest number of stays (117 days).
Alternatively, on average, Rwandan residents travelling abroad by land stayed for educational purposes as the primary purpose (76 days), with the largest duration of stay recorded in the EAC (76 days).
Similarly, for air travel, education was also the purpose associated with the longest average stays abroad (222 days), with Rwandan residents spending the majority of such stays in North America (278 days).
In 2026Q2, Rwanda’s export of travel services was estimated at 161.8 million USD. According to this estimate, total expenditure by non-residents arriving by air in Rwanda reached 135.4 million USD.
By purpose of visit, holiday travel contributed 57.6 million USD to this total. Within this segment, revenue generated from gorillas accounted for 79.4%.
By region, visitors from North America recorded the highest expenditure, totalling 40.2 million USD. Moreover, expenditure by non-residents entering Rwanda by land during their stay is estimated at 26.4 million USD.
The primary purpose for these visits was Visiting Friends and Relatives (VFR), which accounted for 8.2 million USD. From a regional perspective, the largest share of expenditure originated from the EAC, totalling 13.6 million USD. In 2026Q2, Rwanda’s imports of travel services were estimated at 99.7 million USD.
According to this estimate, the expenditure of residents travelling by air during their stay abroad amounted to 76.2 million USD. Business was the primary purpose of these visits, accounting for 32.8 million USD. By region of destination, Europe recorded the highest spending, totalling 26 million USD.
Furthermore, residents travelling by land spent 23.5 million USD. The primary purpose of these trips was business, with a total of 16.2 million USD, and the largest share of spending originated from the EAC at 23.5 million USD.