| Sustainable Tourism Dev. Conference…By Jenelle CarterGuyana will be showcasing its three most unique tourism products as the 13th annual Caribbean Conference on Sustainable Tourism Development gets underway today. With an aim of promoting and expanding on eco-tourism, adventure tourism and nature-based tourism,China Adidas Hockey Jerseys, Minister of Tourism (ag) Irfaan Ali, asserted that this confab will be the ideal platform to showcase Guyana’s potential.These prime products,Cheap Jerseys, Ali stressed, will be vigorously promoted and can be advanced, once marketed properly. During the conference there will be more than 30 international and regional media entities which will all be highlighting Guyana and its products to the international arena. According to Minister Ali,Jerseys NFL China, crews from National Geographic and USA Today have already arrived and have begun tours,China NFL Jerseys,with an aim of getting firsthand experience of what Guyana has to offer.“We see a direct link to food sustainability and suitable tourism in Guyana, and as you are aware, we are investing tremendously in expanding our ability to produce enough food to reach the requirements of not only Guyana but the Caribbean”.Minister Ali further alluded to the fact that most of the food Guyana produces is organic and is therefore sustainable in its delivery.“We are looking to use this conference to expand this market to bring greater opportunities to the agro processing industry and other agro-investors,NFL Jerseys Wholesale, through an exhibition which we will be hosting at the Convention Centre, in collaboration with the Guyana Marketing Corporation.”In addition, the Minister opined that Guyana has strong products in the Art and Craft sector, and expressed that he hopes business opportunities and linkages can be made with the wider markets.Ali said discussions were held on the possibility of a Guyana Fashion Exhibition that will adequately promote the local fashion industry, thus encouraging profitable marketing opportunities.The Minister reiterated the fact that “the conference is coming at a time in the world when we are faced with many challenges including global warming and environmental degradation, both of which have severe effects on the environment and the tourism sector. The rising sea, for example, has the potential of taking away our beaches and corals that are prime tourism products for the Caribbean. It also has the potential of destroying the forest”.With this in mind, Ali said critical issues such as financing and carbon financing will be addressed during the forum.“Guyana as you know is promoting the Low Carbon Development Strategy and a substantial aspect of that strategy is focused on maintaining economic soundness, and for the Caribbean,Orlando Magic Jerseys, the tourism sector is critical for economic growth and for the development of our economies, so we cannot take lightly with issues of climate change and the environment.”Ali said that in light of such challenges, his Government is proud to be hosting the conference at a time when the world is debating the state of the environment and the sustainable development of economies around the world in terms of securing the environment.The conference will be hosted from today (April 15) to Wednesday (April 18) and has an impressive line-up of speakers from across the region.Close to 200 tourism specialists and media representatives are expected to participate in the Conference organised by the Caribbean Tourism Organisation (CTO). With the theme “Keeping the Right Balance: Sustaining Our Resources” it is a forum for discussion on how to design and implement sustainable tourism policies and programmes. |
