From: Caribbean Net News
Photo: Minister of Tourism Industry and Commerce Manniram Prashad deliveringremarks at the 5th Technical Meeting Tourism Commitee meeting of Focal Point.
At head table from left are Director, Guyana Tourism Authority, Indranauth
Haralsingh, Director of Regional GTZ for the Amazon Regional programme in
Brasilia, Horst Steigle, Coordinator of Tourism, ACTO, Donald Sinclair
(GINA photo)
GEORGETOWN, Guyana (GINA) -- Delegates from seven member countries including Guyana, Brazil, Suriname, Peru, Colombia, Ecuador, Venezuela and Bolivia of the Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organization (ACTO) and members of the diplomatic corps converged Monday at the Guyana International Conference Centre, Liliendaal to participate in the 5th Technical Tourism Committee meeting of Focal Points.
The four-day meeting which is being conducted under the theme “Community Based Sustainable Tourism” will incorporate deliberations on strategic visioning, planning and implementation of sustainable tourism development for the Amazon as a single geo-destination.
Minister of Tourism Industry and Commerce Manniram Prashad during his opening remarks endorsed and acknowledge the important work and initiatives of ACTO in creating more awareness and branding of the Amazon region, a region that is the most bio-diverse in the world, occupying seven percent of the world’s landmass but home to more than 50 percent of known species on the planet.
“The Amazon rainforest the world’s greatest remaining natural resource-called the lungs of the world, 20 percent of the world’s oxygen and fresh water is produced here. We have a mandate to conserve, preserve, protect and promote the Amazon for the future of the world,” Minister Prashad said.
He told the participants that Guyana has joined other ACTO counties in nominating the Amazon as one of the natural wonders of the world and that he is proud to report that the Amazon has made the final list.
“Everyone living outside of the Amazon must be encouraged to visit. Each Amazonian country is uniquely endowed with world class tourism attractions. We must work together to create geo-destinations and to package the various attractions to give the visitors an experience they will never forget,” he said.
Minister Prashad said that the technical committee meeting is occurring at a critical time and juncture when the world is confronted with climate change which impacts every sector of society. Therefore, many countries have already embarked on the transformation of their entire economies to create low-carbon development pathways. Such a new development paradigm creates opportunities for sustainable economic growth and for tourism.
Minister Prashad alluded to Guyana’s Low Carbon Development Strategy, an initiative of President Bharrat Jagdeo that aims to expand on economic and social reforms and aid in the fight against climate change.
At the centre of the Strategy is Guyana’s 15 million hectares of pristine rainforests which has an economic value of US$508M, but if left untouched without affecting national development can contribute to US$40B to the global economy each year.
He said the President believes that such a compensatory mechanism should be included at the 15th Session of the Conference of the Parties (COP-15) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Copenhagen in December.
“Climate change is not just an environment issue. It is a development issue. We view climate change through the lens of poverty reduction and human development. The support of the international community, ACTO and the UN must be guided by a vision of inclusive and sustainable development. Guyana can lead the way in building a green, low-carbon economy,” the Minister stated.
The Minister added that the technical committee meeting marks the beginning of joint work to harness the opportunities of a low-carbon economy and reduce the vulnerabilities presented by the real impact of climate change and urged participants to keep the dialogue alive in the lead up to the 15th Conference of Parties in Copenhagen and beyond.
“As we strive to create more awareness of the Amazon and to promote tourism linkages among the eight countries which share the Amazon, let us adopt low-carbon development strategies, promote and brand a low carbon lifestyle and commit to reducing our carbon footprint,” he encouraged.
Coordinator of Tourism, ACTO, Donald Sinclair said that meeting is important for Guyana since it is a culminating activity for the tourism awareness month celebrations where Guyana was able to showcase the wider Amazon context of tourism.
He said the challenge of developing tourism in the Amazon is exciting and that it is a privilege to have a strong team of ACTO countries working and elaborating the vision of the Amazon as a new tourism geo-destination.
“These technical meetings are the moments that give guidance to ACTO. They are the moments where we receive inputs from the member countries…from representatives of the Ministries of Tourism and….the private sector regarding the way forward,” Sinclair said.
Director, Guyana Tourism Authority, Indranauth Haralsingh noted that as close neighbours the ACTO countries face similar challenges as it relates to climate change, and sustainability threats to bio-diversity.
He told members that it is the mission of ACTO to work cooperatively with Amazonian countries to find common solutions to some of the problems.
On such solution, he noted is the call to realize Guyana’s continental destiny and south-south cooperation which have strong positive implications for tourism.
The opening session also saw a presentation by Chairman of the National Climate Change Committee, Office of the President, Shyam Nokta who highlighted the thrust of Guyana’s Low Carbon Development Strategy and the role of tourism and climate change while Director of Regional GTZ for the Amazon Regional programme in Brasilia, Horst Steigler made brief remarks on trade tourism, sustainable development and Amazonian countries cooperation.