Guyana Gets High Marks on Sustainable Tourism at STC 13

Guyana’s Prime Minister Samuel Hinds said Iwokrama has become a living lab for research into Sustainable Tropical forest management.

Mr. Hinds, acting in the capacity of president, told the Caribbean Tourism Organization’s (CTO) 13th Sustainable Tourism Conference (STC-13) in Georgetown of the widespread international recognition Guyana’s low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) has received widespread recognition which led to a partnership for Norway which has since earned Guyana $70 million over a protracted period.

Mr. Hinds also spoke of a number of ongoing low-carbon initiatives, including solar panels being installed in 15,000 homes in the hinterland and the Amaila Falls hydro project which he said are “efforts to lessen our carbon footprint”

PM Hinds said also spoke of extending the runway and construction of a modern terminal at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA), which according to him will see Guyana become a major hub between the Caribbean and South America.

He said his government is also working on accessibility into hinterland, upgrading and developing roads, with Sustain ability as the watchword “We will be focusing on developing tourism culture in Guyana. Tourism is all about total country experience, so success of tourism depends on everyone playing his or her part and an understanding by all, of why we need to preserve or culture and heritage and the way we use energy and water” Mr. Hinds said.

Meanwhile Dr. Paulette Bynoe of the CTO said that knowledge, attitude and practice as it relates to climate change are the key to ensuring longevity of the region’s tourism industry.

“Climate change poses a threat to tourism, we know that tourism itself contributes to climate change with the fossil fuel emissions” she asserted adding that “we have to have a balance, the climate has changed, will change and the climate will continue to change, but education can change the climate.”

Bynoe said the region must understand climate and do capacity building to empower people at different levels of society to make better decisions.