Member countries of the Central African Economic and Monetary Committee, CEMAC have met in Douala to look at studies and restructuring programme of the Tourism and Hotel Management School within the CEMAC zone.

A two-day seminar was held in Douala yesterday to examine the school programme.

Member countries of the Central African Economic and Monetary Committee, CEMAC have met in Douala to look at studies and restructuring programme of the Tourism and Hotel Management School within the CEMAC zone. The school of Tourism and Hotel Management was created in Cameroon as a National school in 1987 and in 2002 it was upgraded as a CEMAC institution. Before this period, other countries had created schools on tourism and hotel management in their countries. Thus, for four months, the member countries have been trying to come up with proposals for a better curriculum for the school to institute what is absent in the other schools on Tourism and Hotel Management in the different countries.

In a welcome address at the meeting, the representative of CEMAC Commission president said tourism has become important in the fight against poverty and prayed that the Douala forum should lead to useful information to improve the sector. He said tourism destinations have increased in recent years and so it is important that stakeholders think deeply on improving quality and quantity to better serve customers.

The Director of the school which is based in Ngoundere said since the Heads of State met in Gabon and talked of the issue, the school has thought it wise to improve on the structures and quality of training.

An on-the-field report presented by Louis Toupin, CEMAC Consultant, presented issues like on the spot training, strength and weaknesses of the training. Toupin said the opportunities in tourism in the CEMAC zone are unexploited and underdeveloped. He added that there is lack of trained staff saying there is need to improve the synergy of police officers in emmi-immigration, focus on practical training because their standards do not meet international norms.

Speaking to the press, the Academic Director of the school, Aaoudou Tagnineing Kaigama, said they will be looking at the kind of programmes to offer such as training of trainers, consultancy and even refresher courses for civil servants to update their know-how. He added that they will also have to increase the number of students because the current enrolment is less than 100 students in cycles 1-3.