HIS EXCELLENCY DONALD RAMOTAR
Friday, April 20, 2012
On behalf of the Government and people of Guyana, and on my own behalf, I welcome the many dignitaries, delegates, observers and media to Guyana. We are pleased to be hosting this most important meeting of regional tourism stakeholders.
Since my election to the Presidency of Guyana, I have re-affirmed Guyana's commitment to the building of a vibrant Caribbean Community and to the deepening of the integration process so as to advance the economies of our people.
Tourism is an important economic sector and is pivotal to the economic growth of many regional economies and consequently to the livelihoods of our peoples. Governments and other stakeholders must therefore make the necessary investments and craft policies that would secure the future of this vital industry. To this end, our biodiversity and eco systems, which form the foundation of the regional industry, must be protected.
We, in Guyana, with our own unique tourism product, have long recognized the importance of the environment to the development of a sustainable tourism product. We have more importantly acknowledged the overarching responsibility to promote economic growth through effective environmental stewardship. Our Low Carbon Development Strategy seeks to find the right balance between our push for economic prosperity and the maintenance of sound environmental practices.
Former President Bharrat Jagdeo did a lot of work in this area and he drove the proves with great zeal. I am pleased that during your conference he was able to share his thoughts with you on the linkages between tourism and environmental sustainability. I urge all of you to make our LCDS an object of study since I believe it offers a model that can be adapted to the economies of the region by promoting sustainable environmental policies and leveraging our ecological assets for the development of tourism.
Given the vulnerabilities of our countries to rising sea levels, unpredictable weather patterns and the devastating impacts of natural disasters, it is in our interest to support environmentally sound policies, including such measures within the tourism and hospitality sector.
Sustainable tourism development also entails ensuring that the benefits of tourism reach down to grassroots. This is why here in Guyana we also plan to have a strong focus on community-based tourism by supporting measures that strengthen and expand community involvement in the development of our tourism product.
I am sure that during your stay in Guyana you would have become more familiar with the distinctiveness as well as the diversity of our tourism product. We believe that we have a lot to offer. We have a varied Tourist Product. It is therefore no accident that we are beginning to receive international accolades and recognition for the efforts in sustaining this product.
Later this year, I intend to host an extensive marketing awareness seminar with tourism operators, media and specialists in the United States as part of my government's commitment to promote investment and expansion opportunities. I see a great future for tourism here in Guyana and for us to create the linkages and synergies with our regional counterparts to also boost regional tourism efforts.
This is another area we can look to for broadened cooperation and integration of our region.
This annual Caribbean Conference on Sustainable Tourism Development therefore afford all of us the opportunity to reflect on how regional tourism can rebound after the deleterious effects of the global crisis which led to a slowdown in the industry. We must use this opportunity to rethink our approach, embrace new strategies and seek new vistas in tourism development.
If this conference has stimulated ideas on the way forward for sustainable tourism development, then I believe that it would have been an immeasurable success because great achievements originate with good ideas. Once again, I thank you for your participation and presence here and wish you all success in the future.
Photo Credit To Guyana Times
