On October 27, at the Emirates Stadium in London, Visit Rwanda, Arsenal’s official tourism partner and sleeve sponsor, gave fans the opportunity to learn about gorilla conservation and the country’s ecotourism offerings.

Fans had the opportunity to try their luck at scoring goals and winning VIP tickets to a match, a signed Arsenal 2019/20 first team jersey and a standard jersey.  

As they took selfies with a Visit Rwanda gorilla mascot, fans also learned about Rwanda’s own ‘#GorillaGoals’, including plans to expand their habitat and ongoing efforts to protect the species. Due to these efforts, mountain gorillas are the only great ape species increasing in number anywhere in the world.  

In addition to learning about gorilla conservation, such as the annual Kwita Izina Naming Ceremony, fans also participated in the competition to win a range of prizes from Visit Rwanda.

Visit Rwanda’s ‘#GorillaGoals’ event in London comes after the recent visit by David Luiz - the first Arsenal first team player to visit Rwanda since the partnership’s launch last season. Luiz’s visit followed in the footsteps of Arsenal legends Alex Scott, Tony Adams and Lauren who previously participated in the country’s Kwita Izina gorilla naming ceremony and saw the gorillas in Volcanoes National Park.  

“Rwanda has diverse and unique tourism experiences – from trekking to see the mountain gorillas and going on safari to observe the Big Five in their natural habitat, to exploring crystal-clear lakes by kayak and spotting hundreds of bird species in ancient forests. We are pleased to share the beauty of our country with Arsenal fans and invite them to visit Rwanda for their next holiday,” said Belise Kariza, Chief Tourism Officer, Rwanda Development Board. 

The Visit Rwanda partnership with Arsenal continues to raise awareness about Rwanda as a country that promotes ecotourism, welcomes investment and prioritises conservation.