The
tourism industry in Cameroon is slowly taking shape with quality well thought
out facilities springing up aiming to provide a quality service to the
holidaying public. One such facility that recently opened its doors is Moland
Beach Resort. We caught up with the owner through the business networking platform SIPEC and below is our little chat.
Happy
Reading!
DC: What
is the main concept of Moland Beach Resort
Moland Beach Resort (MBR): MOLAND
BEACH is an all-inclusive self-contained beach-front destination resort that
will boast the biggest outdoor fresh water park in the world, a golf course,
leisure boat pursuits and other water sports, with ample entertainment and
adventures to attract and keep all kinds of visitors, throughout their stay.
We plan to create the first business
and vacationer’s year-round paradise, to provide food, drink, lodging, sport,
recreation, entertainment , shopping and a conference centre, for the Central
and West African region.
DC: What
inspired this?
MBR:
The need for us to start catering for the growing middle class in the continent
with world-class venues where they could rest, relax and rejuvenate. The need
to catch up with what is happening around the world, and especially in other
African cities. The need for us Africans to start spending our holidays within
the continent. The need to believe that beautiful things can come out of Africa.
DC:
5 things you can tell us (potential client) about the resort is?
MBR:
They are:-
-It is
uniquely located in one of the most attractive parts of Africa – the West Coast
of Cameroon in IDENAU - just where the Atlantic turns south in the Gulf of Guinea.
This is also the place where the black volcanic sands of Limbe fizzles out at
the end of mount Cameroon into the predominantly brown sands of West Africa.
-It is endowed with a multitude of
outstanding natural beauties including an island, a haunting lagoon, several
rivers criss-crossing as they run into the sea, and a five kilometre natural
and unspoilt beach-front.
- It will boast the biggest fresh-water
swimming pool in the world.
-The Jet Ski park makes this part of
Africa look like Miami Beach or The French Riviera. But the big difference is that
here you can have your Jet Ski adventure in the Lagoon (for beginners) or the
sea (for the experienced skier).
- This will be the first business and
vacationer’s year-round paradise, that will provide food, drink, lodging,
sport, recreation, entertainment , shopping and a conference centre, for the
Central and West African region.
DC: Who
are behind the project?
MBR: The Royal “We”. But I am looking out
for genuine partners.
DC: What
has been the biggest challenge?
MBR: Mentality
– we don’t seem to be supportive of entrepreneurship that is not Government
related and especially if the dream is big. Dishonesty - it is beginning to
look like it’s the national game.
DC: Could
we potentially see a chain of Moland Beach Resorts across Cameroon/world?
MBR: Yes.
Moland could soon take over the world from Disney Land and Lego Land,
as the place where adventures are made. And will come in the following
forms: Adventure Parks; Hotels and Leisure; Holiday Resorts.
DC: In
your opinion, the change in Cameroon is...(complete and tell us why).
MBR: If at
all there are any changes, within the private sector in Cameroon, like
Government says, it is mostly in the telecom and banking sector. However, this
is not exclusive to Cameroon. It is Africa wide. Government is now beginning to
understand that the Civil Service has a stranglehold on business in Cameroon.
The recent business forum that took place in Douala was to try and address some
of these issues. Commended though, this might be too little, too late. Until
the issues affecting Small and Medium Size Enterprises are seriously tackled,
development in Cameroon will only be brought about by Government, not the heart
and soul of business. The SMEs are the back-bone of every economy, and we
should understand that. Our government is too big, too powerful, too
everywhere, to the extent that it fails to provide the kind of platform or
atmosphere in which business needs to strive.
Check out some images of the facility below...
Exciting isn't it? Go visit!
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Stay sweet
Dulce
xxx
