Cameroon is a country endowed with lots of Tourism Potential. Unfortunately the accompanying Quality Services and infrastructure that should accompany and better project this potential have for many years been limping behind.
This problem has been compounded by the Public Sector Mentality in Cameroon. The tendency to always believe that any initiative has to be carried out by the Government or the Public Sector.
Furthermore, attempts by individuals to venture into the Tourism Industry have always proven to be very challenging due to the absence of an enabling environment thus justifying the complain that the Ministry of Tourism has not been living up to expectations in terms of meeting up with the standards that are required for the sector to move forward to become a major income earner for the nation.
These challenges not withstanding, private initiatives have been steadily increasing in the sector. The Hotel Sector in Cameroon which timidly started shortly after Independence and Reunification with Hotels dominantly run by the Public Sector and foreign investors has experienced a transformation of unimaginable dimensions.
Individuals have invested heavily in the Sector in the Major cities in the country notably in Yaounde, Douala, Limbe, Kribi, Bafoussam, Bamenda, Dschang, Garoua amongst others.
However, while the Hotel Sector has been growing, the need to train personnel to work in this thriving sector became necessary. It was noted that most of the managing personnel of the Three, Four and Five Star Hotels were either foreigners or European Trained. Related infrastructures like Restaurants and associated services like Chefs or Cooks suddenly needed trained personnel and there were almost none in sight.
Today there has been that increased awareness of the necessity to collectively work for the growth of the Tourism Industry in Cameroon.
Trained Individuals who have worked in the Sector for years are gradually waking up from slumber and throwing their weight behind that collective effort to push the sector forward.
One of such individuals that this reporter caught up with was Mr Nfor Thaddeus of the Institute for Hotel Catering and Tourism Management.
This establishment is found at Douala specifically at Ancienne Route (Old Road).
This seasoned Tourist worker and Hotel Manager explained that the Institute for Hotel Catering and Tourism Management trains professionals in the domains of Hotel Catering and Management, Tourism Management, Bakery and Pastry amongst others.
The advantages of studying at this Institute are that students are trained in salable skills required in the job market.
This initiative clearly falls in line with what is needed for the sector to improve upon the quality of it’s services and finally occupy the important place that it deserves on the list of National Priorities.
By Francis Ekongang Nzante.
Education And Development News: Edev Web News
Email: edevnewspaper@gmail.com
Tel: +237696896001/+237671262198
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