Director, Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA), Indranauth Haralsingh, delivers the opening address at the workshop.

The Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organisation (ACTO) Tuesday hosted a stakeholders’ meeting and workshop at the Guyana International Conference Centre, to focus on Guyana’s involvement in ACTO’s 2010-2014 Tourism Development Plan (Vision 2014) for the Amazon.

The workshop was held under the theme “Establishing the Amazon Caribbean Trail” and was aimed at getting the input of stakeholders associated with the tourism industry.

Director, Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA), Indranauth Haralsingh in his remarks, stated that the Amazon is a natural resource of extreme value that can play a critical role in the aspect of climate change, which is a global phenomenon, and lauded ACTO’s approach to establish Guyana as a prominent tourist destination.

ACTO’s Tourism Coordinator, Donald Sinclair, explained that Vision 2014 aims at enhancing the competitiveness of the Amazon as a tourism destination. He also noted that the plan seeks to strengthen relations, develop regional tourism products, and promote Amazon products.

Sinclair emphasised the need for Guyana to forge better relations and strategise in order to take advantage of the economic benefits existing within its borders, especially its immediate neighbours, Suriname and Brazil, which are seen as an integrated circuit by ACTO. He noted that the September 14 official opening of the Takutu Bridge may have the largest single impact on Guyana’s tourism industry.

Sinclair further stated that there is a lot of preparation to be made in welcoming this integration, such as signage, language learning, types of services being offered, security, cultural exchanges, and establishment of tourism routes.

ACTO is an inter-governmental organisation that unites eight countries of the Amazon Basin. These are Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela. A Permanent Secretariat (ACTO/PS) was established in 2002, with the intention of creating a platform for member countries to engage in political dialogue and regional cooperation.

Guyana is set to host the next ACTO Meeting of the Technical Committee in November, which will coincide with Tourism Awareness Month. (GINA)