Examination of Mountain Tourism and Conservation: the Case of Cameroon

With regard to tourism, communities possess a vital role focusing on the creation of destinations. Growth and maturity has been seen in the tourism industry and as a result novel approaches are frequently debated in making tourism sector a community development projects and as an aider of social and economic progression in lacking communities. Cameroon has natural resources, touristic potentials which are not utilized. Whereas other countries like South Africa, morocco, Botswana, Kenya and Senegal where tourism is flourishing and growing but that of Cameroon is hindered because of the underutilization of the resources. All other tourism activities such as culture, wildlife, etc. are developed to a certain level in the country except mountain tourism and its conservation which is being threatened by bush fires and deforestation. This study focuses on the examination of Mountain Tourism and how it has been conserved over the past years in Cameroon. This study focuses on the examination of Mountain Tourism and how it has been conserved over the past years in Cameroon. To also examined economic, environmental and socio-cultural impacts of mountain tourism and conservation in Cameroon. Further to analyze these impacts and the intension to support mountain tourism in Cameroon. To outline the various touristic potentials present in Cameroon for example Mountain Tourism and how it has boost Cameroon’s economy. In other to develop a detail understanding of mountain tourism and conservation in Cameroon, a quantitative approach was used. Data was collected using questionnaires with 150 people who were easily accessible and knowledgeable with MCE activities in Cameroon. Social exchange theory (SET) is the theory applied in this study. It has sociological and psychological views which describe social exchange and stability as a method arranged exchanged between people in a given society. According to Correlation results, economic impacts is significantly correlated to environmental impact (r=.39, P<.01) and intention to support MCE (r=.25, P<.01). There is no significant correlation between economic impact and socio-cultural impact. Results revealed that environmental impacts is significant and positively correlated with socio-cultural impacts (r=.31, P<.01) and intention to support MCE (r=.53, P<.01). Keywords: Mountain Tourism, Conservation, Cameroon, communities.