Gov’t to launch maiden national tourism week today.

The six-day activity will be punctuated by a fitness walk, an excursion, exhibition fair, a gastronomic evening and the presentation of Artificial Intelligence solutions developed by startups. 

The ceremony will be organised alongside celebrations marking the 2026 World Tourism Day which is observed annually on September 27. 

This was during a press briefing organised in the build to the programme set to run under the patronage of the Interim Minister of Tourism and Leisure, Gabriel Mbairobe.

The initiative is programmed to run till Monday, September 28. It will be under the theme: “Digital agenda and artificial intelligence to redesign tourism”. One of the first series of activities will be an excursion at the Mefou Park in the Centre Region.

Ndioro said the initiative is aimed at fully enabling Cameroon to evolve in the way it presents itself as a major tourism destination that is rich in extraordinary diversity of landscapes, cultures, traditions, gastronomy, natural and historical heritage.

He told reporters that the adjustments are crucial for Cameroon in a world where technological advancement has positioned social media and other digital platforms at the heart of fast-pacing global operations. 

“In a world where travellers plan their stays on their phones, discover destinations on TikTok, Instagram, Facebook or YouTube, consult online reviews before booking, and now use artificial intelligence tools to search, compare and organize their trips, the way we present Cameroon must evolve. That fully explains the theme of the activity,” Ndioro said. 

The tourism ministry scribe said the programme will enable government and its partners to reflect on how to better promote the country’s tourism destinations on the internet, ease tourists’ access to reliable information shared on the digital platforms of Cameroonian institutions.

He said together with partners, journalists, influencers and content creators, they will brainstorm on how Cameroon can use digital tools to improve visitor experience and ways through which more young Cameroonian companies can be enabled to position themselves in the tourism sector.

The weeklong exercise, he added, will equally enable government to pair up with its partners and strategize on how Cameroon can use AI in the tourism sector without losing its authenticity. 

“Artificial Intelligence should not be seen solely as a technology reserved for large corporations or IT specialists. It also constitutes a tool that can contribute to deeply transforming our tourism industry. It can help us better understand visitors’ expectations, personalise their experience, improve tourism communication, produce multilingual content, facilitate access to information and make our destinations more visible on digital platforms,” he said.

He said they keep an essential conviction that technology must remain at the service of humans, culture and identity and not replace the hospitality, traditions or the authenticity of the country.

Communication professionals key actors

Ndioro urged journalists, influencers and content creators to use the National Tourism Week to restate themselves as true partners in promoting Destination Cameroon by properly marketing the country’s touristic riches. 

“A few-seconds video can now inspire thousands of people to discover a waterfall, a museum, a beach, a festival, a village, a hotel or a culinary specialty,” he said.

To effective do this, he said they must demonstrate creativity, professionalism and innovation in the ethical and responsible use of new tools, including Artificial Intelligence. 

“Let us make digital technology not just a showcase, but a true bridge between Cameroon and visitors from all over the world,” he added. 

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3919 of Thursday September 24, 2026