INTERVIEW ON THE OCCASION OF THE 39 TH INTERNATIONAL WOMEN DAY

My motivations of undertaking a journey in the tourism sector emanates from the fact that I am that person who will like to interact with people just to know more about them. As dynamic as I am, interacting with people has never been a problem. I love to discover new places, people etc. Growing up as a child with my parents moving from place to place for work equally increase the zeal to go beyond. My educational background equally amplified my knowledge, thereby making me an excellent guide on the field. With my history and geography background, not leaving out the customs and traditions of my people, studied in customary law kept me afloat.

My journey into the tourism sector was never and has never been a smooth one. Looking at the situation of Cameroon and coupled with the fact that the tourism sector is the least recognised and catered for by the power that be, at every level there is always a challenge. Bureaucracy is the order of the day, non-technicians who know little or nothing about tourism are put in decision making positions. We face challenges in the field from stakeholders in the sector because of lack of education and lack of knowledge about the importance of tourism as a whole

The 2024 theme for this year’s celebration of the international women’s day (Invest in women, accelerate the pace) is quite an excellent theme because when you invest in a woman in all domains, you have invested positively in the growth of a family, a community and the world at large. If the team of this year’s celebration does not ends on the 8th with drinking and dancing but ends at the face of active implementation, then we are all in for a better future for a generation unborn.

The impact of woman in travel and tourism is multifaceted far-reaching and vital in the industry’s growth and resilience. By nature, women are hospital, tender and have a listening ear. But truth be told, just like in other discipline, Women are disadvantaged at work in tourism and hospitality industries. In general terms and in reality, women may be better equipped than men in performing and overseeing in a wide variety of tourism and hospitality jobs. Female employees find employment in subordinated posts with low levels of income.

The challenges for a lady guide are enormous in a considered male dominated discipline. Exposure to dangers of being molested in all its form, disrespect from stakeholders and even villagers. Sexual harassment is not left out. Jungle safaris are very dangerous for women.

Ill health for women can easily fall sick on the field than men.

Women entrepreneurs in the tourism and travel industries face the challenge of non-availability of finances

Pressure from domestic responsibility

Stiff competitions are a challenge

Lack of support from the administration e.g., sponsoring trade fairs, helping them set up a befitting structures, publicity and advertisement, Organising more trainings sessions etc.

Problems of expansion and diversification. Less opportunities for career progression

Offering job opportunity that will lead to a better life. Poverty will be eliminated

Women empowerment and gender equality

Improve maternal health and reduce maternal mortality. Improve universal primary education and reduce child mortality Tourism can empowered a woman economically as written above, socially by enabling them learn from those they meet especially from other countries. Improvement in their usual community come together to foster developments

Women will learn how to keep their environment friendly for it to be attractive to visitors. The ecosystem will be balance if the importance of tourism is learned by the best teachers of all times

Philologically empowerment. A community that psychologically powerful can be seen as people who are optimistic about the future

Study on protecting the ecosystem. This initiative will tackle climate change and boost community resilience by neutralizing tourism’s carbon footprint, improving the livelihoods of local food producers, increasing local food security; while empowering women to better participate in the tourism value chains and conserving coastal ecosystems that act as carbon sinks.

Promoting resilience, health, equality and indigenous values

Keeping our indigenous values are primordial. This will enable visitors to visit and not destroy our core values. Keeping our environment clean and healthy

Promoting our local crafts like articles and our local cuisine that earn an income when they are purchased by visitors

A feminist competition can offer a lot of added value to tourism as a whole

When beauty competitions are organised, people come to see and our different cultures are show cased. Economically, income is generated

When our local crafts and cuisine are put out in trade fairs, income is generated and our values are show cased.