Tourism professional in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) with 20 years of experience, John Katumba is a tourism expert specializing in sustainable development. He holds the position of supervisor of the “Sustainable Development and Tourism” commission at the National Committee of the IX Games of La Francophonie.
In an interview with CONGOPROFOND.NET, John Katumba points out that the stakes of the Games of La Francophonie go beyond the event itself. According to him, the host country must work on the sustainability of development after the Games, because this event bringing together 88 French-speaking countries should bring sustainable economic and social development to the organizing country. He insists on the importance of maximizing the impact of the Games on local tourism, highlighting tourist sites around Kinshasa such as Zongo Falls and hikes on the Congo River.
During the preparations for the Francophonie Games, John Katumba was involved in setting up a sustainable development system. This included actions such as site sanitation, interior and exterior cleaning, rat extermination, disinfection, tree planting and eco-citizenship education. The objective was to make the Games of La Francophonie an event that respects the environment and to make participants and spectators aware of the preservation of nature.
Asked about the post-Games of La Francophonie, John Katumba calls for the establishment of a team of experts responsible for advising the Head of State on how to maintain and enhance the infrastructure built for the Games. He stresses the importance of not letting these infrastructures turn into useless “white elephants” after the event.
In summary, the Games of La Francophonie in the DRC represent a major opportunity for the sustainable development of the country. John Katumba insists on the importance of seizing this opportunity to promote tourism, raise awareness of eco-citizenship and ensure the sustainability of infrastructure after the event. With his rich experience and his commitment to sustainable development, John Katumba makes a valuable contribution to the preparations for the Games of La Francophonie in the DRC