Travel And Tourism in Cameroon
Euromonitor International's Travel And Tourism in Cameroon report offers a comprehensive guide to the market at a national level. It looks at travel accommodation, transportation, car rental, tourist attractions and retail travel. It identifies the leading companies and offers strategic analysis of key factors influencing the market, including background information on disposable income, annual leave and holiday taking habits.
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Chapters: 8 | Tables: 41 | Publication date: Apr 2007
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- Get insight into trends in market performance
- Pinpoint growth sectors and identify factors driving change
- Identify market and brand leaders and understand the competitive environment
Product coverage
Airline capacity and utilisation; Arrivals by country of origin; Arrivals by mode of transport; Arrivals by purpose of visit; Car rental services by sector; Demand factors; Departures by destination; Departures by mode of transport; Departures by purpose of visit; Domestic tourism by destination; Domestic tourism by mode of transport; Tourism receipts and expenditure; Tourist attractions; Transportation; Travel accommodation; Travel retail services
Executive summary
Tourism Lacks Promotion
411,000 tourists visited Cameroon in 2005 and, according to the World Travel and Tourism Council, the number of arrivals is expected to grow by 7% in 2006. There was a steady increase in visitors over the review period and this was due to favourable international trends and Cameroon's relative political stability. The fact that both French and English are spoken in the country has also helped tourism flows. However, there is a lack of a clearly articulated national policy on tourism and as a result the industry is not very developed. Reforms and initiatives that were to be implemented in the year 2000 have yet to be enacted and in 2006 the government is undertaking a re-launch campaign for tourism in Cameroon.
The country's economic development is heavily reliant on foreign aid and technical support from the IMF and the World Bank; therefore a sustainable approach to tourism is being developed. Ecotourism presents an ideal opportunity for the government to diversify its tourism product while protecting the environment and the livelihoods of many local communities. Cameroon's gift of one of the most pristine virgin forests in the world, home to elusive gorillas and forest elephants, makes that process even more appealing for the government.
However, promotion of tourism will be crucial in ensuring Cameroon's tourism development as, currently, many professionals decry the lack of exposure but also the lack of finances needed to upgrade existing facilities to international tourism standards.
Lack of Travel Accommodation Infrastructure
This market needs funding as there are only two 5-star hotels in the country, the Hilton in Yaoundé and the Méridien in Douala. There are also about 15 3- and 4-star hotels throughout the country which will be inadequate to handle the number of international tourists the government wants to achieve over the forecast period. The small independent hotels and other types of travel accommodation such as guesthouses need to upgrade and renovate their facilities to meet standards of international tourism, and the heavy tourism tax on all tourism facilities is proving financially hard for most hotels. Privatisation of this market is underway but thus far there are few incentives for potential investors as lack of promotion of the destination remains a concern for the industry's professionals.
Travel to and within Cameroon Expensive
Cameroon's transport infrastructure needs overhauling and most roads inland are not accessible during the wet season. But the government, with the help of donor agencies, in particular the EU, is carrying out major resurfacing and road building works to improve access and conditions on the roads.
Air access to Cameroon is an issue as ticket prices make the destination an expensive one and the government is taking steps to allow an increase of charter flights from Europe to Cameroon to help reduce the costs to tourism. Airport taxes levied on tourists are also a concern for many tour operators and tourism promoters. There have been calls to review them to further encourage tourists to visit the country.
Camair's privatisation was the main development in transportation during 2006. After years of financial difficulties, 51% of the national carrier's shares were sold to a Belgium-Cameroon consortium, First Delta Air Services, which will begin operations later this year.
Travel Retail Relies on Beach Destinations
This market saw major development over the review period. Beach tourism needs to be further developed to make Cameroon a competitive winter sun destination. Safari tours remain the most popular form of holidays in the country. Diversification of tourism is taking place however, with the development of ecotourism in the east and southwest of the country and plans to develop further agro-tourism in the industrial plantations zone around Douala in southern Cameroon.
Table of contents
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
TOURISM LACKS PROMOTION
LACK OF TRAVEL ACCOMMODATION INFRASTRUCTURE
TRAVEL TO AND WITHIN CAMEROON EXPENSIVE
TRAVEL RETAIL RELIES ON BEACH DESTINATIONS
KEY TRENDS AND DEVELOPMENTS
GOVERNMENT TOURISM POLICY
Outlook
Impact
PROMOTION OF CAMEROON AS A TOURIST DESTINATION
Outlook
Impact
ECOTOURISM
Outlook
Impact
TRAVEL ACCOMMODATION
TRENDS
Business tourism
PROSPECTS
TRANSPORTATION
TRENDS
Transport infrastructure
Cameroun Airlines (Camair)
TRAVEL RETAIL
TRENDS
Beach holidays
Safaris and national parks
Agro-tourism
MARKET DATA
Table 1 Length of Trip: 2000-2005
Table 2 Arrivals by Country of Origin: 2000-2005
Table 3 Arrivals by Method of Transport: 2000-2005
Table 4 Arrivals by Purpose of Visit: 2000-2005
Table 5 Departures: 2000-2005
Table 6 Departures by Destination: 2000-2005
Table 7 Departures by Mode of Transport: 2000-2005
Table 8 Departures by Purpose of Visit: 2000-2005
Table 9 Domestic Trips by Mode of Transport: 2000-2005
Table 10 Incoming Tourist Receipts: 2000-2005
Table 11 Incoming Tourist Receipts % Growth: 2000-2005
Table 12 Outgoing Tourism Expenditure: 2000-2005
Table 13 Outgoing Tourism Expenditure % Growth: 2000-2005
Table 14 Domestic Tourist Expenditure: 2000-2005
Table 15 Forecast Arrivals by Country of Origin: 2005-2010
Table 16 Forecast Arrivals by Method of Transport: 2005-2010
Table 17 Forecast Departures: 2005-2010
Table 18 Forecast Departures by Destination: 2005-2010
Table 19 Forecast Departures by Mode of Transport: 2005-2010
Table 20 Forecast Incoming Tourist Receipts: 2005-2010
Table 21 Forecast Domestic Tourist Expenditure: 2005-2010
Table 22 Forecast Outgoing Tourism Expenditure: 2005-2010
SECTOR DATA
Table 23 Hotels: Units 2000-2005
Table 24 Regional Hotel Parameters 2005
Table 25 Travel Accommodation Sales by Sector: Value 2000-2005
Table 26 Hotel Company Rankings 2005
Table 27 Forecast Hotels: Units 2005-2010
Table 28 Forecast Travel Accommodation Sales by Sector: Value 2005-2010
Table 29 Transportation Sales by Sector: Value 2000-2005
Table 30 Airline Company Rankings 2005
Table 31 Forecast Transportation Sales by Sector: Value 2005-2010
Table 32 Car Rental Sales: Value 2000-2005
Table 33 Car Rental Company Rankings 2005
Table 34 Forecast Car Rental Sales: Value 2005-2010
Table 35 Travel Retail Outlets: Units 2000-2005
Table 36 Travel Retail Sales: 2000-2005
Table 37 Travel Retail Company Rankings 2005
Table 38 Forecast Travel Retail Outlets: Units 2005-2010
Table 39 Forecast Travel Retail Sales: 2005-2010
Table 40 Tourist Attractions: Value 2000-2005
Table 41 Forecast Tourist Attractions: Value 2005-2010
DEFINITIONS
TRAVEL AND TOURISM
DEMAND FACTORS
Length of trip
TOURISM PARAMETERS
Arrivals
Departures
Outgoing tourism expenditure
Domestic tourists
Domestic trips
Domestic tourist expenditure
TRAVEL ACCOMMODATION
Hotels
Other travel accommodation
Number of bed nights
Occupancy rates
Number of rooms and beds
TRANSPORTATION
Air
Other transportation
CAR RENTAL
TRAVEL RETAIL
TOURIST ATTRACTIONS
INTERNET SALES