CAMEROON: Tourism Development In Cameroon Is Suffocating National Interests

Yan'an — China's Revolutionary Memorial Museum in Yan'an is a good example of how upholding virtues and developing historical sites could attract tourists from within and without.

At a time Cameroon's tourism destination dangles in the eyes of foreigners amidst insecurity imposed by the bestial Boko Haram insurgents, it may be high time powers that be seek ways of inciting nationals into visiting and knowing their country. The industry, experts say, is sustainable when tourists come from all directions - within and without the country.

China serves as a good example where internal tourism blossoms. Statistics garnered from the different sites Cameroon Tribune has visited thus far show that internal tourism here stands tall. This is a complete contrast with Cameroon where the timid interest of foreign tourists, like is the case for some time now, almost crumbles the industry.

China's Revolutionary Memorial Museum in Yan'an City, Shaanxi Province that depicts the country's long route to independence and the establishment of the Communist Party of China (CPC) is today a crowd puller. Spread over seven hectares and a display area of 5,500 square metres, the museum manages over 100 revolutionary sites wherein it collects and displays over 30,000 photos, cultural relics and relevant materials of China's liberation struggle.

The Museum Director, Zhang Jianru said it is a significant base to introduce patriotism, revolutionary tradition and a sense of belonging to Chinese who throng the site every day. As the CPC clocks 95 in July, 2016 (established in 1921), the number of visitors keeps increasing with most, if not all, curious to see and know the founding fathers. The site receives over 10,000 visitors every day most of whom are Chinese seeking to know their country better.

Besides the magnificent edifice that hosts the relics and photos of China's revolutionary fathers, the development of the immediate environment and the city is to say the least impeccable. The same holds for other provinces and cities as people and areas that contributed to China's irresistible development are immortalised in widely visited areas. This is the case of Emperor Qin Shihuang's Mausoleum Site Museum, where relics of the first Emperor's palace are displayed 2,200 years after.

The Zao Yuan Memorial where China's current President, Xi Jinping spent his youthful age has also been transformed into a widely visited site. Examples abound! The areas are equally well managed with professionals in place to take visitors round and to brief them on what is present in what site and what it represents to the country. The least of facilities here are not lodging, catering and transportation, a combination of which makes tourists want to visit or cajole others into visiting the areas.

Historic sites in Cameroon like Foulassi, Foumban and Buea where Cameroon's reunification pages were written could be developed as such to give the country what Revolutionary Memorial Museum in Yan'an and others are giving China in terms of image and revenue