With the upcoming African Nations Cup, Cameroon needs to show proof of a veritable tourist destination.

Qualified workers, just like in any other profession, are required for the success of the Cameroon hospitality industry (hotel management and catering). With the upcoming African Cup of Nations slated for 2016 and 2019 in Cameroon, there is need to upgrade the quality of hotel management and catering services in order to make the nation a veritable tourist destination.

To enable tourists visit Cameroon before, during and after the sport events and to boost the economy, the Bonaberi, Douala branch of the National Employment Fund (NEF) recently organised a meeting with stakeholders to debrief them on the advantages of recruiting qualified staff to provide quality services to customers. With the theme, “The place of human resources in hotel management and catering,” the Director of NEF Bonaberi, David Dieudonné Kobba, lamented that recruitment at times was based on relationships, not qualifications, experience and competence, thereby helping to crumble businesses. It is for this reason that NEF has put in place a competence centre where job seekers are evaluated and proposed to businesses in need.

The meeting brought together proprietors and managers of hotels and catering services, officials of hotel management and catering training centres, administrators and professionals in the sector. Pascal Teufack, an icon in the sector, lectured on the importance of qualification, while Henri Kouamou spoke on employment possibilities in the hospitality industry. Given the lack of professionalism, the non respect of international norms and standards and the existence of clandestine structures, David Dieudonné Kobba disclosed that synergy will be created between NEF and stakeholders to check irregularities.