Mount Loulou: Cameroon’s Far North Bets on Tourism Despite Security Challenges

Can tourism once again become a driver of development in the Far North? This was one of the issues raised on September 25 during the 47th World Tourism Day.

To breathe new life into the destination, regional authorities chose Mount Loulou, in the Ndoukoula Subdivision, as a showcase of the region’s natural riches.

Led by Daïrou Mana, representing the Governor of the Far North, the delegation climbed the slopes of Mount Loulou for nearly 850 metres.

A field operation intended to reveal heritage that remains largely untapped and to draw greater attention to the region’s tourism potential.

But behind these landscapes lies a major reality: the security challenge. The crises that have affected the Far North in recent years have weighed heavily on tourist numbers, hotel activity, and the destination’s image.

Reviving the sector therefore requires a dual effort: securing tourist sites and rebuilding visitor confidence.

Added to this is the need to modernise the promotion of the destination through social media, digital platforms, and artificial intelligence.

Held under the theme, “Digital Agendas and Artificial Intelligence for Rethinking Tourism,” this 47th World Tourism Day thus highlights another challenge: showcasing the landscapes, culture, and heritage of the Far North in new ways.

For professionals, the stakes go beyond tourism alone.

Developing these sites can boost the hotel industry, create jobs, generate income for communities, and diversify the local economy.

With Mount Loulou as a starting point, the Far North is therefore attempting to change its narrative: moving from a destination marked by security constraints to a territory capable of showcasing its heritage and gradually winning back visitors.

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