Guyana set to showcase rich and diverse sustainable tourism products
REGIONAL and international tourism experts, specialists and international media representatives will be attending the Caribbean’s most important gathering on sustainable tourism development in Guyana, a tourism destination that has received numerous accolades for its ecosystem management, biodiversity conservation and climate change adaptation efforts.
Close to 200 delegates are expected to participate in the 13th annual Caribbean Sustainable Tourism Development Conference (STC 13), with the theme “Keeping the Right Balance: Sustaining Our Resources” from April 15-18 at the Guyana International Conference Centre in Lilienthal.
The event, which Guyana first hosted in 2000, provides a forum for the 32 member countries of the Caribbean Tourism Organisation (CTO) to discuss how to design and implement sustainable tourism policies and programmes.
At the 2011 event in Bermuda, Guyana was high-profile as the country copped the “Excellence in Sustainable Tourism Award” presented to Surama Eco lodge in the Rupununi.
The awards, which have been expanded, have five other categories – Sustainable Accommodation, Community Benefit, Heritage Protection, Special Event and Biodiversity Conservation.
The annual forum, organised by the Barbados-based CTO, is also attracting a lot of attention because of the high-profile keynote speaker, former Guyanese President, Bharrat Jagdeo who was named by Time magazine and CNN  as one of  their “Heroes of the Environment”, and who is the recipient of the United Nations “Champion of the Earth” award.
Guyana’s Minister of Tourism, Irfaan Ali believes the conference fits into Guyana’s overall development framework, with a low-carbon development strategy that strikes a balance between economic and sustainable development.
“Guyana has been recognised internationally as a destination for community and nature-based tourism. We have been creating opportunities for interior villages, and we will be showcasing some of these sites during the Conference,” Ali said.
He commented on the need for expansion of some of Guyana’s current accommodations to cater to much larger groups. He observed that while Guyana’s resorts are of world class standards, most of them have a maximum of 20-30 rooms.
Delegates are looking forward to study tours that will expose them to Guyana’s lush, rich and exotic tourism landscape. The programme includes a river expedition tour in Essequibo; visits to award-winning Surama, Annai and Aranaputa in the Rupununi; a city tour that includes Demerara Distillers Ltd and, of course, Kaieteur and Orinduk Falls.
The Donald Ramotar Administration, among other things, is placing emphasis on developing human resources in the tourism industry, enhancing marketing initiatives, and upgrading the sector’s institutional framework and infrastructure, while, at the same time, promoting the use of green energy.
Guyana, which is emerging as a leader in sustainable tourism management, has plans to house a world-class biodiversity centre. Ali emphasised that Guyana does not want to be known as a one-segment tourism destination, but rather one that offers an integrated tourism package.  He pointed to the growing agro-processing industry that is well equipped to cater to the hospitality sector in Guyana and the rest of the Caribbean. The country’s ability to consistently deliver high quality and adequate supplies will be demonstrated to delegates attending STC 13 through a special agro-exhibition.
Tourism and hospitality specialists and executives will also get a first-hand look at Guyana’s vast and versatile craft industry through a craft exhibition that will include top-of- the-line furniture and bamboo products.
CTO Secretary-General Hugh Riley identified as one of the key benefits of the annual Sustainable Tourism Development Conference sensitising the Caribbean public to the importance of the principles of sustainability. Sustainability principles refer to the environmental, economic and socio-cultural aspects of tourism. At the core is finding a suitable balance between these three dimensions.
Like Minister Ali, Riley says one of the messages from these events is that eco-tourism is just one element of sustainability. The annual conference provides a forum to promote the much broader dimension of the industry that embraces community involvement and one that is integrated with micro, medium and large industries.
According to the CTO Secretary-General, the focus on STC is to discuss ways to preserve all the assets of the tourism industry, and for the stakeholders and public in the region to understand the importance of keeping the right balance as the industry grows and evolves.
“The frontline people in the industry, including taxi drivers, understand with crystal clarity the importance of sustainability. The challenge is with service providers who have no direct contact with the tourist,” Riley told me from his Barbados office.
He agrees with the Guyana Tourism Minister that one of the success stories is the tremendous increase in local products in craft, agro-industry, food services, health and wellness.
Riley observed that consumers are not just interested in the beach, but consider the total tourism experience that includes the cultural product that includes history, natural resources and heritage sites that capture excellence in architecture and design.
“One clear principle of sustainability is reducing the carbon footprint when we use something local, as opposed to something produced thousands of miles away. One example of this is using local seafood versus the imported product,” the CTO Secretary-General remarked.
One area the Guyana Government is vigorously pursuing is drafting and enacting legislation to ensure that there are consistently high standards throughout the industry. Riley noted that across the Caribbean, there are a lot of regulations in the industry. The issue is with enforcement.
Among the many benefits of participating in this premier regional tourism event is learning about the cutting-edge sustainable tourism issues and trends from regional and international experts. Delegates, according to the CTO, will understand how Caribbean destinations can become more competitive and sustainable, and learn about green investment opportunities.
This Conference provides a unique opportunity for local tourism operators to tap into the considerable experience of regional and international tourism specialists and to discuss best practices in the industry.
Some of the distinctive features of the annual STC are the Youth Forum and the “Stakeholders Speak Out” session that allows the CTO to receive feedback on all aspects of the industry, and on the regional tourism organisation itself.
Another productive element is the reporting by the previous host of the conference on what learning they took away from the event, and what sustainable best-practices it has adopted over the past 12 months. Guyana will be taking on this role in 2013.