Tourism professional in the DRC for more than 20 years, John Katumba is a recognized expert in the field. As Supervisor of the “Sustainable Development and Tourism” commission at the National Committee of the IX Games of La Francophonie, he plays a key role in the organization of this major event.
In an interview with CONGOPROFOND.NET, John Katumba highlights the importance of the issues related to the Games of La Francophonie. According to him, it is essential to work on the anchoring of sustainable development after the Games, because this event bringing together 88 French-speaking countries must bring a real economic and social impact to the organizing country.
As an expert and supervisor of the “Sustainable Development and Tourism” Commission, John Katumba had a key role in the preparations for the Games. In particular, it has set up a sustainable development system aimed at making the Games of La Francophonie games that respect the environment. Among the concrete actions carried out, we find sanitation, cleaning, tree planting, education in eco-citizenship, and the promotion of tourism in the sites around Kinshasa.
During the Games, John Katumba and his team worked hard to achieve the goal of zero visible waste. The sanitary facilities in the stadiums have been brought up to standard, thus reassuring spectators, especially parents, who were able to enjoy the events in complete peace of mind.
But for John Katumba, the organization of the Francophone Games should not be limited to the event itself. He pleads for the establishment of a team of experts after the Games, in order to think about how to maintain and use the infrastructures built during the event. It offers clear proposals to ensure that these infrastructures are brought up to international standards and used in an optimal manner, and thus avoid being abandoned.
In conclusion, John Katumba, as a tourism expert and supervisor of the “Sustainable Development and Tourism” Commission, brings valuable expertise to the Games of La Francophonie in the DRC. Its objective is to see these Games not only as a one-time event, but as an opportunity for sustainable development for the country, in economic, social and environmental terms