Impacts of Sisyphean Socio-Political Instability on Tourism in Belo Subdivision, North West Region-Cameroon

Tourism as an act of leisure and recreation is the main income generator in the world today. In sub Saharan Africa (SSA), tourism has surfaced as one of the leading industries that provide economic benefits to independent governments. Although it is beneficial to economic development, the decision to travel by a tourist is influenced by a sound social cohesive environment void of political instability, violence, and terrorism. The Sisyphean socio-political instability existing between the state and separatists in the restive Northwest and Southwest regions of Cameroon denotes an obstacle to the tourism industry in Belo subdivision in the Northwest Region of Cameroon. The continuous weight exerted by the socio-political instability on tourism in Belo subdivision attracts research effort. To assess this continuous weigh, qualitative and quantitative methods of data sourcing were employed for secondary and primary data collection. Related literature was reviewed alongside oral histories captured through interviews, informal discussions, and questionnaire administration to 68 respondents in households as well as field observation which constituted methods of data procurement for the analysis of the impacts of the Sisyphean socio-political instability the subdivision. Quantitative data were processed and presented in the form of tables and graphics for descriptive analysis while qualitative data were processed using in-vivo codes, analytical codes and themes. Results reveal that 76.47% of rural residents acknowledged a decrease in the value of the touristic potentials while 89.5% confirmed that most of the potentials are covered with overgrown vegetation. Results also reveal that 75.6% agreed that there is a decrease in the number of visitors. To transcend this unabated instability, both state and separatist leaders should come to a consensus and give peace a chance. The subdivision should be granted incentives for infrastructural renovation around touristic potentials sites.