The introduction of lions at the Akagera National Park has boosted tourism if the growing number of visitors is anything to go by.

In June this year, seven lions — five females and two male were flown from South Africa for restocking of Akagera National Park.

Hospitality industry players said the lions have raised enthusiasm among tourists looking for a variety of tourism products.

The development is likely to divert the attention of tourists who know Rwanda for gorillas.

“The year is going to end on a good note in the hospitality and tourism industry. There are so many interesting events like Kwiti Inzina. It has been a pick season for hotels and now the lions,” said Denis Karera, chairman of East African Business Council.

Mr Karera also the chairman of Rwanda Restaurant and Hotel Association said he is getting many inquiries about the lions.

“Recently, foreign envoys in Rwanda visited the park when the lions were being released into the wild,” said Mr Karera.

By press time, Rwanda Today could not establish the number of visitors to Virunda and Nyungwe parks that are run by Rwanda Development Board.

Data from Akagera park shows visitors increased by 17 per cent in June shortly after the lions were introduced.

“We had a total of 27,980 visitors in 2014. For 2015, we have received 6,759 total visitors so from January to June, and we are currently up by 5 per cent on total visitors compared with the same period last year,” Sarah Hall, tourism and marketing manager of Akagera Management Company.

Overall, by close of the first six months of this year —January to June — the park recorded a 4 per cent increase in visitors.

Total park revenue for the same period is up by about 20 per cent,” added Mrs Hall.

“We expect that park visitation will increase, as news of the arrival of the lions has reached far and wide and many people are interested in coming to see them in their new home,” said Mrs Hall.

The lion’s arrival coincided with a domestic tourism campaign by the Rwanda Development Board. Currently over 50 per cent of park visitors are Rwandans.

However, there is a growing concern that the effect of the Ebola scare, which reduced the tourist arrivals in East Africa due to travel advisories issued by the Western countries will contribute to the slowdown in growth of the sector.

Tourists are said to view Africa as a single country and an outbreak of a disease in country affects the whole continent.