A two-day workshop organised by the Ministry of Tourism and Leisure in Bamenda has trained Mayors and Secretary Generals of councils on how to set up tourism board in councils.

Tourism Boards shall spur more tourist activities in the Council which, according to North West governor, Lele L’Afrique Adolphe, are gold mines to boost council revenue and improve on local economy.

The overwhelmed North West Governor thanked the Minister of Tourism and Leisure for the opportunity granted local councils to set up Tourism Boards. This, he said, would be a turning point in local council governance.

“I can assert with lot of certainty that tourism is a gold mine and a treasure for our local communities. Let me name some of the benefits that we are taping from it; if cleaned up, embellished they will create jobs and wealth for councils,” he said. He added that he was convinced Council Tourism Boards will optimise achievements and truly foster social and economic activities in the councils. He challenged everybody to make good use of this opportunity.

The opening of the workshop Monday 15 December was presided over by the Minister of Tourism and Leisure, Maigari Buba Belo, who told participants that the tourism sector is one of the principal motors that is essential in job creation. The sector, he said, is a factor of tolerance and mutual comprehension among people and constitutes a determinant factor that can make smooth the process to attend the objectives of decentralisation that is unfolding today in the country.

According to Minister Buba Belo, it is thanks to the multifaceted nature and its strong added value to the economy that tourism is capable of boosting hope and re-igniting the economy in a bid to reduce poverty with the numerous job opportunities offered. With this in place ready jobs would be created for women, men and youth which in turn will curb rural exodus.