Dr. Emmanuel Nsabimana, Associate

Bio

Dr. Emmanuel Nsabimana is a highly accomplished tourism & hospitality consultant with over 18 years of progressive experience across government, academia, and the private sector. He brings a deep and practical understanding of the tourism and hospitality ecosystem in Africa. He served as Head of Tourism Regulations in Rwanda for seven years, where he led the development and enforcement of regulatory frameworks, spearheaded the licensing and classification of tourism and hospitality businesses, and played a key role in formalizing community-based tourism enterprises. His leadership helped shape Rwanda into a globally recognized destination for high-quality service and sustainable tourism.

An expert in MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions), Dr. Nsabimana has contributed to the successful organization of over 100 international events and conferences in partnership with the Government of Rwanda and global development partners. His ability to coordinate complex, multi-stakeholder projects has made him a trusted advisor in both public and private initiatives.

As a consultant, Dr. Nsabimana supports clients across East and Southern Africa in launching and scaling tourism and hospitality ventures. His consultancy services include:

• Business planning and strategy development
• Market research and feasibility studies
• Organizational design and staffing
• Operational setup (SOPs, training, service quality systems)
• Post-launch coaching and performance improvement

He has advised a range of businesses from tour operators and eco-lodges to hotels, restaurants and events management companies providing strategic insights and practical solutions tailored to each client's goals and market context.

Dr. Nsabimana is an Associate Member of the International Society of Hospitality Consultants (ISHC), a global network of leading industry experts, and an active member of the Society for Conservation Biology (SCB). His academic contributions include research publications and international conference presentations, with a particular interest in community-based conservation and sustainable tourism development.

Dr. Nsabimana partners with governments, NGOs, and private clients to deliver innovative and sustainable solutions in tourism, hospitality, and conservation. He also continues to share his expertise as an adjunct professor (part-time lecturer) at higher learning institutions in East Africa. He holds a PhD and a Master’s degree in Tourism and Hospitality Management from the Cape Peninsula University of Technology, South Africa, and a strong foundation in finance and accounting through a Bachelor of Commerce (Honours) Degree in Business Administration from the University of the Western Cape.