‘Cameroon is at the crossroads where the entire land of Africa seems to meet’

How has Cameroon been able to achieve its long-standing stability?

Cameroon is a peaceful and dynamic country. His Excellency has stated on many occasions that Cameroon is a land of peace and is becoming a very democratic country. We live in peace and the process of democratisation is going well. When we observe what is going on right now with the demonstrations in North Africa, we are happy to be Cameroonian. There are 250 different cultural groups living peacefully here and each individual has his own way of life and customs. Everyone is proud of his country and wants to keep peace. We will continue to live in peace thanks to our political institutions.

In 2010 more than 500,000 tourists visited Cameroon, making it an official world travel destination. What is the country’s tourism potential and what competitive advantages does it have over its neighbours?

As the chairman of the Commission for Africa for the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) and as Minister of Tourism, I would like to say that Africa has much to offer. Many people have described Africa as the land of the hungry and of bad governance, but I think that Africa has much to offer to tourists. Cameroon is an emerging tourist destination. It is not yet Morocco, South Africa, Tunisia or Kenya, but we are very happy that we welcomed so many tourists last year. This is a result of action we have taken over the last six years here at the Ministry.

Our slogan describes Cameroon as all of Africa in one country. Cameroon is able to offer everything that people want to see in Africa, thanks to the diversity of our landscape and flora and fauna. It is also thanks to that diversity we can offer all types of tourism: safari, seaside, cultural, eco and hunting. Some Cameroonians are going to London to promote tourist activities. The Government is working towards this big event to take place in September. It will give England and Cameroon an opportunity to consolidate their relationship in the areas of tourism and trade between the two countries.

What are the main aims of the Ministry of Tourism and how is it contributing to the socio-economic growth of the country?

Tourism is a very important activity and Cameroon has very good potential. In a few years it will become a big and beautiful tourist destination in Africa.

At the Ministry we have two aims: first to welcome many tourists and second to invite investors. We need visitors but also investors, because our tourism industry is expanding. We need better infrastructure, such as more hotels, and we need further investment in our country. The contribution of tourism to the economy is currently very low: 3 or 4 per cent. However, we are working towards a new vision for Cameroon by 2035. We hope the contribution from tourism will be higher; we are aiming at 13 per cent by then.

In 2010 your efforts were focused on training, streamlining the hotel sector, promoting tourism, developing tourist sites and implementing good governance. What are the major plans for 2011 and how do you intend to implement them?

This year we have to work towards consolidating all the good work from last year by continuing to improve the quality of our tourist sites. We will also organise seminars for our partners in order to implement professionalism.

We must continue to consolidate our place in the European tourism market whilst also moving on to other countries, such as China and America. We have the power from the head of the state to sign a memorandum of understanding with China. Through this memorandum we shall host more Chinese tourists groups. We also have to get new markets in the USA and we currently have a partner working for us in Canada.

Upon signing a new partnership with the World Bank, they will help us financially to promote eco-tourism and in the south we have to promote cultural tourism. In the west and northwestern regions we are continuing to look for further financial support, for example from the European Union.

What are your aims this year in order to attract tourists?

We have to go to the countries from where we want to attract tourists. The participation in the tourism fair market is the best way to tell people what we are about. We have chosen many countries where we are planning to go this year to promote Cameroon. We will also organise many trips for journalists to come and visit and write about us and perhaps broadcast it on television. Last year, we had tourists from Belgium and Germany. Two years ago we had 20 tourists and the manager of China’s television. This was before the Olympic games and some trips for journalists before the Shanghai Expo.

What would you like to tell readers about your country?

Cameroon is at the crossroads where the entire land of Africa seems to meet. Cameroon is “Africa in miniature” – all of Africa in one country. If you have not travelled to Africa then come and visit Cameroon.