La politique communautaire du tourisme dans la zone CEMAC. Une analyse à la lumière des enjeux de l’intégration sous-régionale (2001-2012)

Abstract

the process of sub-regional integration. This common tourism vision unfolds around three fundamental pillars: the CEMAC Permanent Tourism Commission; the CEMAC School of Hospitality and Tourism; and the Council of Tourism Ministers of the CEMAC area. To support our argument, we used a methodology based essentially on the collection and analysis of archival documents, publications, academic works, reports, and direct interviews related to tourism and sub-regional integration in this area. The disciplinary anchoring is tourismology in the sense of Jean-Michel Hoerner (tourism sciences) and the history of international relations. Beyond the shortcomings (lack of real political will, limited financial means and the problem of human resources in the tourism sector) which show that tourism remains a secondary concern, this community vision appears to be an asset for completing the process of sub-regional integration in the CEMAC area. In the wake of the Covid-19 health crisis, the effects of which are gradually fading, this study also proposes new elements to ensure a better recovery of tourist activity in the CEMAC area.