(Business in Cameroon) – Cameroon is banking on digitalisation and strategic marketing to revive its tourism industry, signing two agreements aimed at connecting nearly 900 sites and attracting half a million visitors annually. The deals, concluded in Yaoundé on September 18, bring together the Ministry of Tourism and Leisure, state telecom operator CAMTEL, and consultancy firm Minerve.
Under the agreement with CAMTEL, the state-owned operator will extend its national fiber-optic backbone to tourist destinations, linking hundreds of sites and improving online access. The company also plans to use its national data centre to host strategic tourism platforms and secure digital content. The goal is to make Cameroon’s attractions more visible on global platforms and easier to book.
An online tourism agency is planned to centralize offers and streamline reservations. According to CAMTEL, the effort will give the country’s heritage a stronger presence on digital channels, aligning Cameroon with the global trend where most travel revenue is now generated through online sales.
The second agreement with Minerve targets tourism development at the local level. The firm will work with municipal and regional authorities to identify priority sites, restore cultural and natural attractions, and design promotion strategies. The aim is to turn local heritage into growth drivers for communities, generating jobs and income at the grassroots.
Cameroon’s tourism revenues are recovering after the pandemic slump. Industry data from Statista show the sector is on track to generate $258.5 million in 2025, above pre-Covid levels. Revenues are expected to grow 6.2% annually through 2030, reaching about $350 million. By then, nearly 70% of all sector revenues are forecast to come from online channels.
Tourism is also central to Cameroon’s National Development Strategy 2030, which seeks to diversify an economy still dominated by oil, agriculture and raw materials. Officials argue that linking digital infrastructure with site rehabilitation is key to making tourism a pillar of inclusive and sustainable growth.
Despite 930 recognized tourist sites and a labor force contribution of 15%, the sector currently generates just 4.1% of GDP. Former minister Bello Bouba Maïgari told parliament earlier this year that 60 sites were improved between 2010 and 2024 with CFA10.9 billion in state funding. The new agreements are designed to accelerate that progress and position tourism as a driver of long-term development.
Mercy Fosoh
