Guyana Joins Amazon Tourism Sector

Guyana was formally presented with the Tourism Circuit Manual of the Amazon Tourism Trail during a forum at the Guyana International Conference Centre that was organized by the Ministry of Tourism, the Guyana Tourism Authority and the Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organization (ACTO), after which a workshop to discuss the manual’s uses, applications and the next steps forward was held.

The formulation of the manual resulted directly from the involvement of ACTO’s move to develop integrated tourism for the Amazon region, and focuses on Guyana, Suriname and Brazil. Minister of Tourism Irfaan Alli said the manual offers the opportunity for Guyana’s tourism sector to proactively and aggressively enter and expand markets. He explained that while Guyana is behind in pushing the local tourism package forward, the country is now strategically positioned as a part of Amazon tourism.

Minister Ali added that it is time for the sector to lobby and move the integration process forward to link Guyana and the Caribbean with the Amazon. Pointing out that the manual comes at a critical time in the three countries; he said steps already taken by Guyana will speed up the process of the Amazon link. He referred to the links among Brazil, Suriname and Guyana which have already begun to open up tourism opportunities.

The Minister urged that members of the private sector should invest as they will be motivated into the right direction for potential profit and benefit, especially if the rest of the Caribbean agrees to join with the Amazon tourism link.

Minister Ali said that this aspect of world tourism will include the offering of sustainable products to tourists. He pointed out also that the manual offers products that go beyond Guyana and which can compete effectively in international markets.

Director, GTA Indranauth Haralsingh, explained that ACTO is a regional body created by treaty to promote cooperation among eight member countries, Guyana, Brazil, Venezuela, Suriname, Colombia, Bolivia, Ecuador, and Peru, to advance sustainable development of the Amazon region.