POTENTIALS OF THE BALONDO CULTURE FOR CULTURAL TOURISM PROMOTION IN CAMEROON.

ABSTRACT

Cultural tourism as the fastest growing segment in the tourism sector began some 2,700 years ago when Herodotus of Halicarnassusaa, cultural tourist, first set eyes on the Egyptian Pyramids. The Balondo people found in Ekondo-Titi has one of the best cultures and cultural potentials that could be used to promote tourism in Ekondo-Titi and Cameroon in general. The main aim of the study is to assess the potentials of the Balondo culture for cultural tourism promotion in Cameroon. This study is also splite in to specific objectives. To examine the cultural tourism potentials in the Balondo culture in Cameroon.To examine the level of exploitation of cultural tourism for economic development of the Balondo culture in Cameroon.To investigate the problems facing cultural tourism development in Balondo culture in Cameroon.To propose strategies for boosting sustainable cultural tourism for the Balondo culture in Cameroon. Data were collected by using secondary and primary sources from questionnaires, interview guides, field observation, library sources from the University of Buea Library, the online library, as well as materials from published and unpublished sources; journals, and articles. The findings shows that Traditional dances (Kepe cultural danceIsong cultural dance, Ekepe dance), traditional meals, Ekondo-Titi main beach, Pamol plantation, traditional ceremony/ festivals, Artifacts, Sacred forest, Caves, Lobe/Pamol estate, and traditional dress are the potentials found in the Balondo culture in Cameroon, lack of collaborations between the local authority and other stakeholders, lack of involvement of stakeholders particularly the locals, underutilisation of resources, poor management and lack of maintenance are challenges faced.

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1  Introduction

Chapter one comprises introduction, background of the study, statement of the problem, research questions, research hypotheses, research objectives, significance of the study, and operational definitions of terms. Chapter two comprises conceptual review, theoretical review, reviews of empirical literature and research gaps. Chapter three comprises research methodology, introduction, research design, study area, study population and sampling techniques and sample size, instruments, data collection, data analyses and ethical consideration. Chapter four comprises results and interpretation. Chapter five comprise discussions, conclusions and recommendations.

1.2 Background of the Study

Cultural tourism as the fastest growing segment in the tourism sector began some 2,700 years ago when Herodotus of Halicarnassusaa, cultural tourist, first set eyes on the Egyptian Pyramids(Noudou, 2012). However, his comments about the graffiti on the monuments indicate to him that he was far from being the first tourist to visit these monuments and by so doing he tried to gain some understanding about those who built them. Much written history today thinks that tourism was related to mankind’s insatiable curiosity. Another essential motivator was the desire to travel to learn about other people and their culture (Noudou, 2012).

During the 20^th Century, however, ‘cultural tourism’ began to emerge as a significant market segment, thanks to the growing number of people who could travel, and the increasing education levels of those travelling (Richards, 1999). Culture became a part of the tourism product, and cultural tourism became an established market, served by specialist tour operators and fuelled by local cultural development policies. In the future, however, the distinctions between culture and tourism are likely to become increasingly blurred, as we find ourselves enveloped in the culture of tourism. Culture will cease to be a product packaged for tourist consumption – tourism will be culture (Richards, 1999).

The development of cultural tourism is capable of stimulating world tourism diversification and is essential in building a country’s image, thus cultural tourism can be one of the key instruments in developing a positive image of a county nationally and internationally. Cultural tourism helps preserve the cultural and historic heritage (Ei and Karamanis 2017). Cultural tourism contributes to foreign exchange earnings. It generates employment opportunities to both skilled and unskilled because it is a labour intensive industry that generates a supply of needed foreign exchange. It increases income and gross national product,and thedevelopingof tourism infrastructure that also helps to stimulate local commerce and industry. It contributes towards the exploitation and development of various cultural tourism activities such as agriculture, construction, handicraft, entertainment, improvement of infrastructure, encouragement of entrepreneurial activity and its contribution to tourism development at the local and regional level (Fekadu, 2012).

Cultural tourism has become an importantform of tourism in the modern form of pilgrimage in Europe. Europe is endowed with tangible and intangible tourists potentials such as; archaeological sites and museums, architecture, art, sculpture, crafts, galleries, festivals, events, music and dance, drama, language and literary study, religious festivals, pilgrimages, complete culture, sub-cultures, historical monuments, artistic and cultural manifestations and traditional events which are being exploited for tourism promotion (Irish Tourist Board 1988). Not only does cultural tourism constitute the largest sector of the European attractions market, but it is also increasingly being placed at the centre of urban and rural development strategies and image enhancement programmes. For example; Europe has many cultural sites such as the British Museum in London. Some attractions such as the Eiffel Tower, Big Ben, the Pyramids or the Coliseum, Atomium, the Leaning Tower of Pisa and the City of Venice that come to represent entire cultures are being exploited, managed, and preserved as World Heritage Sitesand to attract millions of visitors for their displays of culture just for the sake of thepromotion of tourism (Colors, 1999).

In Latin America, cultural tourism has fostered tourism promotion/development because of the most relevant sites bearing outstanding universal values (Isa, Ariyanto and Kiumarsi, 2019). Many Latin American cities such as Columbia and Brazil are endowed with rich cultural tourism potentials such as buildings, public spaces, and urban structure which are generically termed urban heritage (Rojas, 2002). For example, Columbia has pre-Columbian monuments and structures such as government buildings, churches, convents, hospitals, military installations, and defensive walls built during the colonial period that are often refined examples of baroque or neoclassical architecture and the military engineering of the period. These cultural potentials have been enhanced with the addition of public buildings, residences and various types of industrial architecture typical of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, which are increasingly prised by the communities. 

The level of development of these cultural resources is so high that tourism in the region is at its boom. This is because the government has defined and implemented measures that protect and preserve cultural resources from becoming not only a beautiful place for tourism but alsosomething that could lead to prioritisation of the expectations and desires of visitors to the detriment of local communities (Isa, Ariyanto&Kiumarsi, 2019).

Malaysia is experiencing an incredible pace of tourism development. Heritage tourism is one of the tourism branches that has long contributed to appeal the tourist destination and acts as an important marketing tool to attract tourist especially with special interests in heritage and arts (Ismail, Masronand Ahmad, 2014). Cultural heritage tourism has emerged as a potential form of alternative tourism among both international tourists as well as Malaysian domestic travelers. The differentethnic groups present in Malaysia has brought about different cultural potentials ranging from its architecture, handicrafts, traditional attire, music, and dance which reflect a colorful heritage and an amalgamated culture.The state of cultural tourism in Malaysia is very low that it can’t support tourism development due to conflict in the management of cultural heritages in Malaysia faced by tourism managers, stakeholders, governments, cultural heritage managers and local community itself. In order for tourism stakeholders to maintain, conserve and preserve their cultural resources so as to boost tourism in Malaysia, tourismstakeholders, and the governments needs to develop a management system that take into consideration every issues and challenges relating to cultural tourism so that decision making process is reliable to optimize the value of cultural heritage tourism industry in Malaysia(Ismail, Masron& Ahmad, 2014).

In recent years, cultural tourism has become a fast growing sector in Cameroon, as a result of the fact that Cameroon, commonly known as Africa in miniature, is blessed with different cultural sites and historical events, some of which are celebrated annually(Noudou, 2012). Cameroon is a country with cultural diversity. It has touristic attractions which can be classified in to tangible and intangible such as; the Reunification Monument in Yaounde, the 50^th Anniversary Monument in Buea, the Slave Trade Market in Bimbia, the Bismarck Fountain in Buea, BafutPlace, Mankon Palace, Bafut Airport, Millitary Camp at up Station Bamenda, the Babungo Palace and Sub Fon Museum, Civilisation museum in Dschang, the National Museum in Yaounde. Festivities such as the Ngondo, the Nyem-Nyem, and burial ground for princes and princesses, the secret forest and intangible loss heritage such as languages(it is a country with over two hundred different ethnic groups and two official languages which are English and French), traditional dance, and traditional rituals among others are been used to promote tourism (Noudou, 2012). Cultural tourism in Cameroon is on the rise with awareness being created by the government, the private sector and the local communitiesbecause it serves as a pillar for strategic growth and the local people use this as a means to boost their local culture but the level of cultural tourism development is very low because of some challenges.

The Balondo culture is rich with natural and man-made cultural tourism potentials like the Ekondo-Titi Beach, traditional dishes, traditional regalia, and traditional ceremonies among others which can be used for the promotion of cultural tourism in Ekondo-Titi and Cameroon in general. This study guides the researcher on the significanceof the Balondo culturalpotentials and how they can be used for tourism promotion.

1.3 Problem Statement

The Balondo people found in Ekondo-Titi has one of the best cultures and cultural potentials that could be used to promote tourism in Ekondo-Titi and Cameroon in general.However, cultural tourism resources of the Balondo’s in Ekondo-Titi are currently underexploited for tourism promotion. An example isthe poor state of the Ekondo Beach which is related to the cultures of the Balondois underexploited making the resources to lie idle.