Bello Bouba Maigari, State Minister for Tourism and Leisure, spoke at the Cameroon Tourism Business Forum on April 21, 2012 in Beijing. Martin Mpana, Cameroon Ambassador to China (the first from left), Dikongue Claire, Prime Minister's Advisor in charge of Industry, Trade and Tourism (the second from right); MBE Samuel, Director of the Department of Tourism Promotion and Tourist Sites, Ministry of Tourism (the first from right) also attended the forum (PHOTO BY LIU JIAN)

Cameroon is welcoming more Chinese tourists and investors to visit and invest in the country, according to Bello Bouba Maigari, the State Minister for Tourism and Leisure, who spoke at the Cameroon Tourism Business Forum on April 21, 2012 in Beijing.

"Cameroon is a country with rich tourism resources, as we have a wide variety of topography, climate, flora and fauna, ethnic groups and traditions. We welcome Chinese to visit and invest here," said Maigari at the forum.  

During Cameroonian President Paul Biya's official visit to China in July 2011, a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between China and Cameroon was signed, opening up group travel possibilities for Chinese tourists going to the Central African nation.

During his own trip, Maigari also discussed the specific timetable for the MOU's implementation with officials from the China National Tourism Administration (CNTA).

China has seen a rapid growth in outbound travel in recent years. CNTA's statistics show that Chinese travelers made around 70 million trips to other countries or regions in 2011.

"We understand the importance of the Chinese market," said Maigari, "After signing the MOU, we hope to attract more Chinese tourists to Cameroon to discover our natural beauty, as well as invest in our country."

Bello Bouba Maigari, State Minister for Tourism and Leisure, spoke at the 8th China Outbound Travel and Tourist Market that ran from April 18 to 20 in Beijing (PHOTO BY LIU JIAN)

Maigari headed a 30-member delegation of senior government officials and business executives in Cameroon's tourism sector. At the forum's networking workshop, as well as at the 8th China Outbound Travel and Tourist Market that ran from April 18 to 20 in Beijing, they established contacts and negotiated with their Chinese counterparts. 

Currently, the annual number of Chinese visitors to Cameroon is between 2,000 and 3,000, including both Chinese workers and tourists, according to Martin Mpana, the Cameroonian Ambassador to China.

Under MOU, the number of Chinese visitors is expected to reach 15,000 in the next five years, according to Mpana. "The joint work between the two parties will make it possible," he told ChinAfrica.

To promote its tourism resources, Cameroon plans to launch direct flight service to China. According to Maigari, Guangzhou will likely be the first destination.

Cameroon is known as "Africa in Miniature," a place that seems to capture the essence of the entire continent. A variety of tourist draws dot the country, such as beautiful beaches, great rivers and waterfalls, mountains, lakes and forests, safari opportunities in its numerous national parks, and a rich and diversified cultural heritage, all which cater to different needs of foreign visitors.

With the slogan "All Africa in One Country," Cameroon boasts its rich tourism resources at the 8th China Outbound Travel and Tourist Market that ran from April 18 to 20 April in Beijing (PHOTO BY LIU JIAN)

Bello Bouba Maigari, State Minister for Tourism and Leisure (Center) headed the delegation to attend the 8th China Outbound Travel and Tourist Market that ran from April 18 to 20 in Beijing (PHOTO BY LIU JIAN)