Hospitality sector intensifies preparations ahead WTO conference.

The intensification of preparations follows a government-led workshop organised recently. The workshop was aimed at tightening data collection and reservation systems for establishments earmarked to host the influx of international delegates.

The session, held recently in Yaounde, brought together hotel promoters, general managers and heads of accommodation facilities selected to receive delegations from 166 countries. 

Organised at the initiative of the Ministry of Tourism and Leisure, the workshop focused on gathering, centralising and validating hotel data for reservation management and monitoring.

The meeting was chaired by acting Tourism and Leisure Minister, Gabriel Mbairobe, who outlined the need for a unified platform to streamline bookings in line with WTO requirements. 

Officials stressed the importance of raising operational standards as Cameroon prepares to welcome around 4,000 participants for what will be the first WTO ministerial conference ever hosted in the Central African sub region.

During the workshop, the ministry highlighted efforts to ensure establishments meet expected levels of readiness, with emphasis on avoiding any procedural gaps that could undermine national preparations. 

The upcoming conference is being positioned as a key milestone within the current presidential term. 

In May 2025, WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala visited Cameroon and toured several Yaounde hotels to assess accommodation conditions ahead of the event, which is anticipated to place significant pressure on the city’s hospitality infrastructure.

According to reports, the 14th Ministerial Conference is expected to serve as a major turning point for the organisation, which focuses on global trade governance. 

Delegates will examine proposed reforms aimed at addressing challenges in international commerce and review agreements linked to sectors such as agriculture. 

The gathering will also provide a platform for member states to discuss emerging trade issues.

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3631 of Thursday November 20, 2025