Several regional and international journalists in the country for the Thirteenth Annual Sustainable Tourism Conference (STC-13) at the Guyana International Conference Centre, Liliendaal from April 15-18 had a taste of Guyana’s beauty, Sunday, which left many of them spellbound. Guyana, stands to benefit from the arrival of regional and international tourism stakeholders participating in the event, as more foreign currency will be circulated during this period, and the exposure that will be afforded media personnel who, apart from participating in the event, will have a firsthand experience of what Guyana has to offer by visiting a number of tourist destinations.
The visiting journalists joined their Guyanese counterparts in travelling to BK Quarries, in the Cuyuni River, Region 7.
On their way to the location, they were afforded the opportunity to see and photograph Fort Nassau, Bartica, the Mazaruni Prison and its agricultural farm, Kyk-Over-al, Fort Island, and Fort Zeelandia.
Brian Tiwari, owner of BK Quarries, in welcoming the team, said that over the years, he has realised that the location can be used, not only for quarrying, but also as a tourist destination.
BK Quarries, strategically located a few miles from Kyk-Over-al, at the junction of the Cuyuni, Mazaruni and Essequibo rivers, is surrounded by three waterfalls (Marshall, Itaki and Itaballi) and flora and fauna which create an atmosphere that tourists will enjoy.  Barticians currently take advantage of the location.
Stephen Wickens, free-lance writer from Toronto, Canada, said that he wants to explore Guyana’s hinterland.
“I am hoping that I will get into the interior…before coming I watched a beautiful three-part documentary on the BBC about Guyana, and it really made me want to come and see the pristine jungle… this planet does not have a lot of pristine rainforest left…when I saw that documentary and the species there, scary with snakes and so on, maybe, I want to see it…there are lots of elderly American people who will be retiring, have money to spend and want to take an extreme vacation. They will be visiting Guyana as it is the place to be,” Wickens said.
Rosemary Alleyne, Director of Broadcast Services, Caribbean Broadcasting Corporation, said that Guyana is magnificent.
“Every time I come up the Essequibo River, it makes me think about the vastness of the place and the potential…I really love Guyana…I tell my friends you must come to Guyana and cross the river and see the people living here, it is a beautiful place with nice people,” Alleyne said.
“As a first impression, it is fantastic, natural wonders,” according to Mark Traston, freelance travel writer from London.
Traston added that he is looking forward to visiting other tourist destinations while here. He also believes that the path Guyana is following in promoting higher scale community tourism and bird watching is the best way to go, as it concentrates on having small lodges with high qualities and standards.
Nina Derhem, responsible for the public relations of the Caribbean Tourism Organisation described Guyana as an interesting destination.
“People in the UK do not know about Guyana and it is important that they do, as Guyana is very interesting…it has been lovely on the river this morning…I look forward to visiting the Kaieteur Falls and Iwokrama,” Derhem said.

Tyrella Alexander, from the Dominican Broadcasting Corporation, said the trip offered the opportunity to see Guyana in a different light.
“I was not told about that aspect of your country, its eco-tourism, nature and so on…taking a ride on the Essequibo River was very interesting…viewing other parts of Guyana is necessary for not only tourists, but also Guyanese who have not yet visited these locations,” Alexander said.
Rickisha St. Louis, of Real FM radio in Grenada, never imagined such a ride.
“You hear things about Guyana, and I was scared because of the water snakes and so on..I was amazed with what I saw, and it is an experience I would remember…there is a lot of history out there in the river…the boat ride was nice, and I will do this again in any other part of Guyana,” St. Louis said.