The tourism industry is playing an increasingly important role in the global economy, contributing 5 percent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP), 30 percent of service exports and 235 million jobs. In the world today, ecotourism has become a significant component in the lexicon of international development policy and assistance, referred to routinely as a potential new source of income for any area with a scenic landscape, whether natural or cultural. The North West Region of Cameroon is one of the most spectacular ecotourism destinations in the country and can be termed as an ecotourism cornucopia because of her richness in floral and faunal biodiversity, juxtaposed with beautiful undulating terrain, mountain, hills, caves, forests, water falls, lakes as well as an amazing cultural diversity. The main objective of this study was to identify and survey the ecotourism potentials in the North West Region of Cameroon. Data were obtained mostly through field survey though the use of questionnaires and focus group discussions were also employed. Also, secondary data sources were made used of. The data were analysed using SPSS Version 21 statistical package to produce simple charts for the interpretation of each of the sections in the questionnaires answered. The Microsoft Excel package was used to produce simple modules. The topographic map was drawn using Map Info. Pictures were edited and organized using Canon picture softwares, Zoombrowser and Photorecord respectively. Results revealed that the North West Region is endowed with 112 physical ecotourism potentials with Mezam Division having the highest number (33) followed by Bui Division with 19 ecotourism potentials while Menchum Division has the least with 8 ecotourism potentials. It is also within the North West Region that we find Mount Oku, the famous Oku Montane Forest which is a biodiversity hotspot covering some 20,000 hectares, offering floristic richness, endemic birds, and unique monkeys. Most of these potentials have not been developed largely due to inaccessibility constraints. Results also revealed that there are 10 active cultural festivals that occur in the region every year. Meanwhile, there has been the continuous development of the cultural potentials in all the divisions in the region because culture is part and parcel of a ‘Grassfield man’. This study therefore recommends a win win partnership between the government and the local councils through the new law on decentralization so as to ensure the constructions and maintenance of efficient road network to these ecotourism sites.
| Published in | Earth Sciences (Volume 11, Issue 5) |
| DOI | 10.11648/j.earth.20221105.12 |
| Page(s) | 250-259 |
| Creative Commons |
This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited. |
| Copyright |
Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group |
Assessment, Ecotourism, Ecotourism Potentials, Biodiversity, North West Region
| [1] | United Nations World Tourism Organization (2018). UNWTO Tourism Highlights. 2018 Edition. Madrid, Spain: UNWTO. |
| [2] | Signé, L. (2018). Africa’s Tourism Potential, Trends, Drivers, Opportunities and Strategies, Africa Growth Initiative at BROOKINGS pg 1. |
| [3] | (UNWTO) [2017]. Tourism Highlights 2017 Edition. |
| [4] | Honey, M. (2008). Ecotourism and Sustainable Development, 2nd Edition, Island Press, Washington. |
| [5] | Duffy, R. (2002). A Trip Too Far Ecotourism, Politics and Exploitation Earthscan Publications Ltd London • Sterling, Va Pp13. |
| [6] | Crossette, B. (1998). “Surprises in the Global Tourism Boom,” New York Times, pp 6. |
| [7] | Ezeala, P. (Ed.) Nature Watch. December 2003. |
| [8] | Weaver, D., B. and Lawton, L. J. (2007). Twenty years on: The State of Contemporary Ecotourism Research, Tourism Management 28, 1168-1179. |
| [9] | McCool, F., & Mosey, S. (2001). Tourism, Recreation and Sustainability. Linking Culture and the Environment. New York: CABI Publishing. |
| [10] | Balgah, S., N. and Nfor, N. (2017). An Assessment of Ecotourism Potentials in Kupe Muanenguba Division, South West Region, Cameroon. International Journal of English, Literature and Social Science, 2 (3), 63-64. |
| [11] | Mowforth, M. and Munt, I. (2009). Tourism and Sustainability, Development, Globalization and New Tourism in the Third World, Third Edition Routledge Taylor & Francis, London and New York pp 26. |
| [12] | African Development Bank (AfDB) [2015], New York University, Africa Travel Association. 2015. Africa Tourism Monitor: Unlocking Africa’s Tourism Potential. |
| [13] | Neba, A. (1999). Modern Geography of the Republic of Cameroon. Bamenda: Neba Publishers. |
| [14] | Tchindjang, M. and Fogwe, Z., N. (2009a). Ecotourism in Protected Areas of Cameroon: Trends, Problems and Prospects in, Cameroon: A Country at Crises Cross Road, An Anthology in the Social Sciences, NAB Venture Bamenda. |
| [15] | Yahmed, D., B. (ed) (2010): African Atlases Cameroon, Les editions J. A. ISBN 978- 2-86950-8 Loire offset Titoulet saint-etinne-france. |
| [16] | Ndenecho, E., N. (2005). Biological Resource Exploitation in Cameroon: From Crisis to Sustainable Management, Unique Printers Bamenda. |
| [17] | Lambi, C., M. (2010). The environment and development frontier in Sub Saharan Africa: some global lessons. Bamenda: NAB Ventures. |
| [18] | Ramathan T. R (1991): Non-Governmental Organisation and Natural Resource Management in Africa; A Literature Review, Forestry Support Program. |
| [19] | Gartlan, S. (1992). Cameroon. In conservation Atlas of Tropical Forest, Africa, Sayer, J. (ed) Harcourt and M. Collins, London. |
| [20] | Tchindjang, M. and Fogwe, Z. N. (2009b). Cameroon: A Country of Under- Exploited Tourism Potentials in, Cameroon: A Country at Crises Cross Road, An Anthology In The Social Sciences, NAB Venture Bamenda. |
| [21] | Ministry of Tourism and Leisure (MINTOUL) (2012). Ninth meeting of the National Tourism Board Final Press Release, Yaoundé, MINTOUL. |
| [22] | Nfor, F. & Balgah, (2020). Constraints to the Development of Ecotourism Potentials along the Babessi-Oku Axis, North West Region of Cameroon. Asian Journal of Geographical Research 3 (4): 1-16, 2020. |
| [23] | Lambi, C., M. (1999). The Bamendjim Dam of the Upper Noun Valley of Cameroon: No Human Paradise. In Dunlop, J., and R. Williams (Eds) (2009). Culture and Environment: A Reader in Environmental Education, University of Strathcleydes, Glasgow-Scotland. |
| [24] | Lambi C., M. (2001). The Impact of Human Activity on Land Degradation in Some Highland Regions of Cameroon. Implications for Development. In Lambi CM (Ed) Environmental Issus: Problems and Prospects, Bamenda, Unique Printers and Publishers pp 45-66. |
| [25] | National Institute of Statistics of Cameroon (NIS) (2018). Statistical Yearbook of the North West Region, 2016. |
| [26] | Ntehnda, N. C. F (2005). I Have Run the Race. The memoirs of Nwa Che Francis Ntehnda. Vision Education Publications, Limbe, Cameroon. 285pp. |
| [27] | Ndenecho, E. N. (2009). Ecological Planning and Ecotourism Development in Kimbi Game Reserve, Cameroon. Journal of Human Ecology, 27 (2), 105-113. |
| [28] | United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) (2001). Universal Declaration on Cultural Diversity. New York: United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. |
| [29] | Lindsay, H., E. (2003). Ecotourism: The Promises and Perils of Environmentally Oriented Travel. Cambridge Scientific Abstracts, February. |
APA Style
Fonge Beatrice Ambo, Nfor Frederick, Tabrey Hans Tata, Enoh Christly Anyi-Nju. (2022). Assessment of Ecotourism Potentials in the North West Region of Cameroon. Earth Sciences, 11(5), 250-259. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.earth.20221105.12
ACS Style
Fonge Beatrice Ambo; Nfor Frederick; Tabrey Hans Tata; Enoh Christly Anyi-Nju. Assessment of Ecotourism Potentials in the North West Region of Cameroon. Earth Sci. 2022, 11(5), 250-259. doi: 10.11648/j.earth.20221105.12
Share This Article
Twitter
Linked In
Facebook
Copy
Download@article{10.11648/j.earth.20221105.12,
author = {Fonge Beatrice Ambo and Nfor Frederick and Tabrey Hans Tata and Enoh Christly Anyi-Nju},
title = {Assessment of Ecotourism Potentials in the North West Region of Cameroon},
journal = {Earth Sciences},
volume = {11},
number = {5},
pages = {250-259},
doi = {10.11648/j.earth.20221105.12},
url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.earth.20221105.12},
eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.earth.20221105.12},
abstract = {The tourism industry is playing an increasingly important role in the global economy, contributing 5 percent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP), 30 percent of service exports and 235 million jobs. In the world today, ecotourism has become a significant component in the lexicon of international development policy and assistance, referred to routinely as a potential new source of income for any area with a scenic landscape, whether natural or cultural. The North West Region of Cameroon is one of the most spectacular ecotourism destinations in the country and can be termed as an ecotourism cornucopia because of her richness in floral and faunal biodiversity, juxtaposed with beautiful undulating terrain, mountain, hills, caves, forests, water falls, lakes as well as an amazing cultural diversity. The main objective of this study was to identify and survey the ecotourism potentials in the North West Region of Cameroon. Data were obtained mostly through field survey though the use of questionnaires and focus group discussions were also employed. Also, secondary data sources were made used of. The data were analysed using SPSS Version 21 statistical package to produce simple charts for the interpretation of each of the sections in the questionnaires answered. The Microsoft Excel package was used to produce simple modules. The topographic map was drawn using Map Info. Pictures were edited and organized using Canon picture softwares, Zoombrowser and Photorecord respectively. Results revealed that the North West Region is endowed with 112 physical ecotourism potentials with Mezam Division having the highest number (33) followed by Bui Division with 19 ecotourism potentials while Menchum Division has the least with 8 ecotourism potentials. It is also within the North West Region that we find Mount Oku, the famous Oku Montane Forest which is a biodiversity hotspot covering some 20,000 hectares, offering floristic richness, endemic birds, and unique monkeys. Most of these potentials have not been developed largely due to inaccessibility constraints. Results also revealed that there are 10 active cultural festivals that occur in the region every year. Meanwhile, there has been the continuous development of the cultural potentials in all the divisions in the region because culture is part and parcel of a ‘Grassfield man’. This study therefore recommends a win win partnership between the government and the local councils through the new law on decentralization so as to ensure the constructions and maintenance of efficient road network to these ecotourism sites.},
year = {2022}
}
TY - JOUR T1 - Assessment of Ecotourism Potentials in the North West Region of Cameroon AU - Fonge Beatrice Ambo AU - Nfor Frederick AU - Tabrey Hans Tata AU - Enoh Christly Anyi-Nju Y1 - 2022/09/08 PY - 2022 N1 - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.earth.20221105.12 DO - 10.11648/j.earth.20221105.12 T2 - Earth Sciences JF - Earth Sciences JO - Earth Sciences SP - 250 EP - 259 PB - Science Publishing Group SN - 2328-5982 UR - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.earth.20221105.12 AB - The tourism industry is playing an increasingly important role in the global economy, contributing 5 percent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP), 30 percent of service exports and 235 million jobs. In the world today, ecotourism has become a significant component in the lexicon of international development policy and assistance, referred to routinely as a potential new source of income for any area with a scenic landscape, whether natural or cultural. The North West Region of Cameroon is one of the most spectacular ecotourism destinations in the country and can be termed as an ecotourism cornucopia because of her richness in floral and faunal biodiversity, juxtaposed with beautiful undulating terrain, mountain, hills, caves, forests, water falls, lakes as well as an amazing cultural diversity. The main objective of this study was to identify and survey the ecotourism potentials in the North West Region of Cameroon. Data were obtained mostly through field survey though the use of questionnaires and focus group discussions were also employed. Also, secondary data sources were made used of. The data were analysed using SPSS Version 21 statistical package to produce simple charts for the interpretation of each of the sections in the questionnaires answered. The Microsoft Excel package was used to produce simple modules. The topographic map was drawn using Map Info. Pictures were edited and organized using Canon picture softwares, Zoombrowser and Photorecord respectively. Results revealed that the North West Region is endowed with 112 physical ecotourism potentials with Mezam Division having the highest number (33) followed by Bui Division with 19 ecotourism potentials while Menchum Division has the least with 8 ecotourism potentials. It is also within the North West Region that we find Mount Oku, the famous Oku Montane Forest which is a biodiversity hotspot covering some 20,000 hectares, offering floristic richness, endemic birds, and unique monkeys. Most of these potentials have not been developed largely due to inaccessibility constraints. Results also revealed that there are 10 active cultural festivals that occur in the region every year. Meanwhile, there has been the continuous development of the cultural potentials in all the divisions in the region because culture is part and parcel of a ‘Grassfield man’. This study therefore recommends a win win partnership between the government and the local councils through the new law on decentralization so as to ensure the constructions and maintenance of efficient road network to these ecotourism sites. VL - 11 IS - 5 ER -
Information
Email: