Residents spent an estimated $197.8 million (about 291 billion Rwandan francs) between January and June, the National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda (NISR) said in a report released on Sept. 15.
Spending stood at $98.1 million in the first quarter and rose slightly to $99.7 million between April and June.
The money covered everyday expenses during trips, including hotels, food and drinks, entertainment, sightseeing, gifts and local transport. International transport costs were not included.
Business travel was the biggest expense in the second quarter, accounting for 49.1% of the $99.7 million spent abroad.
Visits to friends and relatives came next at $20.5 million, followed by education at $18.9 million. Holiday travel accounted for $8.6 million, while health-related trips cost $2.8 million.
Air travellers spent $76.2 million during the quarter. Business trips accounted for $32.8 million, while education and visits to friends and relatives accounted for $17.6 million and $14.6 million respectively.
Among people travelling by land, business trips accounted for $16.2 million, while visits to friends and relatives made up $5.9 million.
The figures also show how common business travel was among Rwandans returning home. NISR recorded 53,904 residents arriving by air in the second quarter, including 31,876 who had travelled for business.
Another 276,416 residents returned by land, with nearly 210,000 coming back from business trips and 59,599 from visits to friends and relatives.
How much people spent each day also depended on where they travelled. Air travellers on business trips spent an average of $102 a day in East African Community countries, compared with $140 in North America.
For holidays, average daily spending ranged from $130 in Europe to $170 in EAC countries, according to NISR.
