– as ‘White Cliff Destination’ beckons
KWAKWANI’S tourism potential is being exploited with its first-ever nature resort, ‘White Cliff Destination’, which aims at providing outdoor relaxation at affordable rates to both local and foreign guests as they explore the community’s picturesque beauty.
‘White Cliff Destination’ is an outlet of ‘Places to Stay’, which is an international tourism hospitality company, providing affordable accommodation to persons travelling on low budgets, such as students.
This is a 30-year-old venture of some New York-based Guyanese known as LIZSTAFAM. In Guyana, there are three locations, the third of which is being established in Kwakwani.
Lewis Robertson is a member of LIZSTAFAM based in Kwakwani, and is pushing for the realisation and expansion of ‘White Cliff Destination’ in the community, more so because it is the first of its kind in the Upper Berbice region.
He noted that Kwakwani and its environs have a lot of untapped beauty, that if marketed and advertised in a unique way, can be a big boost for the community.
“This is all natural stuff; you get to rent a hammock instead of a bed. Not everyone wants to sleep inside,” Robertson said. “You get to take in the black water, and the beautiful white sand while you swing in a hammock. So we are offering what people are looking for.”
He said the project is also targeting tourists, so that they can come into the region and spend their currency. It is, however, designed in such a way that locals should not feel left out.
“The tourists must come and leave some of their money here, not take everything back,” he said, adding:
“They must be able to give back to the community in some way; to develop the community.”
He noted that Kwakwani residents also have a role to play in keeping their environment beautiful by desisting from dumping their garbage in the river and on the beaches.
He is also calling on the authorities to make access to the community easier by investing in a proper access road, since no tourist would want to travel for hours on a bumpy, uncomfortable ride.
He is also calling on the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to hold sensitisation forums in the community on the importance of desisting from environmental and river pollution.
A few weeks ago, Minister of Business with responsibility for Tourism, Dominic Gaskin, visited ‘White Cliff Destination’ and held talks with Robertson on how best his ministry can lend assistance to the success of the project.
Minister Gaskin said that he is indeed optimistic at the prospects, sees the natural product as quite attractive and therefore has the potential to attract tourists and visitors.
