www.allAfrica.com Cameroon and Tunisia  signed an agreement to mutually promote tourism activities in the two countries.

Deliberations of the Cameroon-Tunisia Joint Commission wrapped up yesterday on a positive note following the signing of a cooperation agreement on tourism promotion. The agreement which was signed at the end of the Cameroon-Tunisia mixed commission on tourism defines the guiding principles along which the two countries will work. It equally identifies some of the projects that would be realised by the two countries in a bid to promote tourism activities in the two countries.

Two major areas of interest characterised the workshop which peceded the agreement. These are : Training and infrastructure Development. As far as training is concerned, the two parties committed themselves to create a pilot training centre in Cameroon of the model that is found in Tunisia. They also agreed to organise study missions in staistics, marketing, tourism site development, financing and planning. In the same light, Tunisia will increase scholarship opportunities for Cameroonians in tourism and hotel management. The Cameroonioan side on its part expressed the desire to benefit from Tunisian pedagogic assistance in form of training. In this wise, it suggested that two experts be placed at the disposal of Cameroon for a determined period.

As far as infrastructure development is concerned, the two parties agreed to exchange expertise in the sub sector. Tunisia expressed the interest to realise tourism infrastructure development projects in Cameroon and support the putting in place of a global tourism strategy as well as the Cameroon development plan. In addition, Tunisia promised to assist Cameroon in the privatisation process of hotels managed by the Ministry of Tourism.

The Cameroonian delegation was headed by Mrs Marthe-Angeline Minja, Secretary General at the Ministry of Tourism. The Tunisian delegation on its part was led by Mouldi Mhedhbi, general administrator and director of cabinet at the Ministry of Tourism and Handicraft.