The Cameroon International Tourism Fair is entering a new phase of international positioning as preparations advance for its 19 to 21 March 2026 edition, building on a trajectory that began with its launch at Limbe Botanic Gardens in 2021. Conceived from the Mokpwe expression hwueijeli weh Gbamu, meaning welcome, the fair’s founding mandate remains unchanged, to increase tourist arrivals to Cameroon and strengthen visibility for the Central African sub region and the continent.
According to Agatha Iyoki, the platform has expanded from primarily national promotion in its early editions to a marketplace targeting international operators capable of amplifying destination awareness. “The vision is to bring global stakeholders to experience Cameroon firsthand so they become ambassadors when they return home,” she explained, noting that more than 35 international tour operators are expected in 2026. Previous editions recorded participation from Zimbabwe and Tanzania, while the 2025 edition was postponed due to electoral conditions.
Agatha Iyoki
The 2026 theme, Tourism, Culture and Trade Synergies, reflects a broadened mandate that integrates gastronomy, cultural industries and investment promotion. Organizers identify five strategic objectives shaping this year’s framework, tourism growth and job creation, cross border partnerships, cultural exchange, regional integration aligned with the African Continental Free Trade Area, and stakeholder collaboration across government, private sector and communities.
Positioning Cameroon as “Africa in miniature,” Iyoki emphasized that international perceptions often associate the country mainly with football icons such as Roger Milla and Samuel Eto’o, yet its tourism assets extend far beyond sport. The nation sits within the Congo Basin, a region she described as rich in ecotourism resources including lakes, waterfalls and mountains. Cultural assets range from traditional regalia such as toghu garments to music, dance and more than 250 local dishes.
Limbe remains the fair’s permanent host city due to its concentration of attractions. The coastal destination offers black sand beaches, access to Mount Cameroon, proximity to Dibunscha, considered Africa’s wettest locality, and heritage sites including the Bimbia Slave Route, the Alfred Saker and Ekande monuments, and colonial era landmarks inaugurated in 1982 by King Charles III. The city also hosts the Limbe Wildlife Centre, which protects nine primate species, and natural attractions such as Lake Nachtigal and Bomana Waterfall.
Organizers say the fair is structured as a public private collaboration supporting national tourism policy. Engagement strategies include training students, working with universities, promoting small and medium enterprises, and partnering with the Ministry of Tourism and Leisure. Youth participation is a priority, with initiatives designed to build awareness of tourism careers and entrepreneurial pathways.
Infrastructure gaps and connectivity costs remain constraints. Regional air travel can exceed 1,200 dollars in low season and 2,000 dollars in peak periods, while limited road access restricts visitation to remote sites. Conservation is another concern, with some historical structures and relics deteriorating or repurposed without interpretation.
Despite these challenges, projections for the next decade indicate expected growth in exhibitors, trade visitors and international recognition. Organizers cite global precedents such as ITB Berlin as examples of events that scaled gradually through sustained focus.
The anticipated influx of international operators is central to this outlook. Iyoki stated that each visiting operator represents access to large client networks and digital audiences, creating ripple effects for regional travel circuits linking Cameroon with neighboring destinations. This model, she noted, encourages multi country itineraries and reinforces intra African tourism flows.
Environmental engagement also forms part of the fair’s programming, including tree planting, river and beach clean ups, and awareness initiatives such as activities conducted with Saker Baptist College to promote conservation literacy.
With more than 40 international operators projected for the upcoming edition and expanded participation across sectors, organizers consider the fair a strategic instrument for attracting investment, strengthening partnerships and positioning Cameroon more prominently within Africa’s tourism economy.
