Guyana has for the second consecutive year, emerged as the biggest winner at the 2013 Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO)/Travel Mole Sustainable Tourism Awards, having been awarded three of the six  sustainable awards.

These awards were presented  Thursday last as part of the 14th Annual Sustainable Tourism Conference (STC) which was held in Trinidad and Tobago from the 15th -18th  April under the theme “Keeping the Right Balance: Enhancing Destination Sustainability through Products, Partnerships & Profitability”.
This year, of the five nominations submitted by Guyana, the Caribbean Excellence in Sustainable Tourism Award was won by Karanambu Lodge, the National Trust of Guyana was awarded the Heritage Protection Award, and the Biodiversity Award went to the Guyana Marine Turtle Conservation Society.
The 2013 Awards comprised six categories covering all aspects of sustainability, from overall excellence, to accommodation, community, heritage and biodiversity, and Guyana received notable mention in the other categories where submissions were made.
Other winners of the awards include the Puerto Rico Tourism Company which  copped the Destination Stewardship Award, Tryall Club and Villas in Jamaica which received the Sustainable Accommodation Award, and the Community Benefit Award was won by Bowden Pen Farmers’ Association in Jamaica.
The adjudicators of submissions comprised an esteemed panel of tourism specialists: Ms. Ena Harvey, the hemispheric specialist for agro-tourism at the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA); Ms. Seleni Matus, the senior advisor on destinations at Sustainable Travel International and Ms. Gail Henry, the CTO’s Sustainable Tourism Product Specialist.
POSITIVE GROWTH
Guyana’s tourism, hospitality and trade operators and businesses continue to experience positive growth and experience an increase in investments, through the encouragement and support of the acting Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, Irfaan Ali and the Government of Guyana.
“We are proud of the winners who have worked hard to ensure that their businesses and practices fit in to the country’s overall sustainable development agenda. This is indeed a poignant moment for all of Guyana. Congratulations to all of Guyana on this significant achievement,” Tourism Minister  Ali proudly announced.

Alluding to the significance of this accomplishment, Minister Ali said: “The fact that we won three of the five awards at the STC 14 is further proof that our product is the strongest. This sends an important message to the international community, to international tourists and groups of tourists that look for eco-adventure, nature, adventure, and sustainable tourism…the haven for sustainable tourism resides in Guyana.”

Ali noted that with this added recognition, the country can move forward on the progressive frontier of advancing its eco-tourism product and remaining the most outstanding sustainable tourism destination in the region.

Pointing to this year’s awardees, he noted that they all fit into the very tight criteria of ensuring that their product is sustainable, that they protect the environment and they integrate the environment in the development of their product.

Meanwhile,  Director of the Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA) Mr. Indranauth Haralsingh who is in Trinidad for the STC 14 Conference  also acknowledged  the importance winning the various awards will have as Guyana cements its commitment to leading the region in sustainable development.

“We are one step closer to achieving our vision of being the leaders in sustainable tourism development.  Winning the top three awards here, with three recognitions, makes Guyana the leader among the 34 CTO members. Guyana is the only country to have gained a place and a winner in each category,” he noted.

Haralsingh said  too that the achievement demonstrates Guyana’s  partnership, focus and guidance from the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) as its  blueprint for conservation and sustainable development.

According to the GTA Director, these awards are strategic marketing tools which will help to boost and position Guyana as a leader in sustainable travel.

“Congrats to all our winners – Guyana is the buzz word at STC 14.  This will generate tremendous coverage and promotion for destination Guyana!” Haralsingh added.