After more than four years of delays, Cameroon’s reference vocational training center for tourism and hospitality in Bertoua is expected to open in 2026. The announcement was made on January 15 by the Minister of Tourism and Leisure, Gabriel Mbaïrobe, following an inspection visit to the construction site in the East region, according to state-owned daily Cameroon Tribune.
Accompanied by members of his delegation and local administrative and municipal authorities, the minister toured the facilities to assess progress on the project. Works are now about 75% complete, a level the minister described as satisfactory, saying the center should be able to welcome its first students during 2026.
Established by presidential decree on August 25, 2021, the Centre de formation professionnelle de référence en tourisme et hôtellerie (Ceprohtoul) aims to become a national center of excellence for training in tourism, hospitality, gastronomy, and leisure professions. For Bertoua mayor Jean Marie Dimbele Sodea, the project fits into the city’s broader transformation drive. He has previously said the initiative would help strengthen professional networks, improve services offered to tourists, and position Bertoua as a competitive tourist destination.
On the academic side, a framework agreement signed in March 2025 between the Ministry of Tourism and Leisure, the Ministry of Higher Education, and the University of Bertoua provides for shared training programs between Ceprohtoul and the Higher School of Urban Sciences and Tourism (Essut). This cooperation aligns with the higher education orientation law of July 25, which seeks to modernize training programs, strengthen links between universities and businesses, and better match skills to the needs of the national economy.
Ceprohtoul will offer initial training and professional certification programs in gastronomy, culinary arts, hospitality, and leisure services. The objective is to build a pool of qualified professionals capable of improving the quality of Cameroon’s tourism offering and strengthening the country’s position as a competitive destination in Africa and beyond.
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