The Rwanda Development Board (RDB) has issued a Provisional Tourism Operating License to Château Le Marara, authorising the lakeside property to operate as a registered accommodation facility in Rwanda’s Western Province.
The license classifies Château Le Marara as a vacation hotel or resort and is valid from December 11, 2025, to March 31, 2026.
The popular magnificent property is located in Bwishyura Sector, Karongi District, on the shores of Lake Kivu and operates under the registered company Château Le Marara Ltd.
The facility comprises 21 rooms and 21 beds, with two food and beverage outlets offering international, African, and barbecue cuisine. The approval places the property among Rwanda’s formally regulated hospitality establishments as it prepares to scale operations.
The issuance of the license follows a period of heightened public attention after the hotel hosted a high-profile wedding in early July. The multi-day event attracted hundreds of guests and exposed operational pressures typical of newly established hospitality ventures in emerging tourism destinations.
While the event generated public debate and formal complaints, subsequent engagements with tourism authorities and local officials indicated that the challenges stemmed largely from capacity and systems limitations rather than regulatory non-compliance.
The hotel has since introduced internal adjustments, including strengthened management oversight, improved coordination, and upgrades to infrastructure including backup power systems and security apparatus.
Speaking to Taarifa, the management of Château Le Marara confirmed that the property is preparing for its official opening on December 31, positioning the resort for a full-scale launch into Rwanda’s growing tourism market.
Meanwhile Karongi continues to attract investment as a lakeside destination, even as infrastructure and service ecosystems evolve.
The provisional licensing framework, they say, is intended to support such investments while ensuring compliance and gradual operational maturity.
Château Le Marara will now begin hosting events under revised protocols and is expected to receive both regional and international guests in the coming months as it consolidates its presence in Rwanda’s hospitality sector.
