Guyana hosts CTO sustainable tourism conference

Guyana will be the proud host of the Caribbean Tourism Organization’s 13th Annual Caribbean Conference on Sustainable Tourism Development (STC-13) from 15-18 April, 2012.

To say that Guyana is not a typical Caribbean destination is an understatement. It’s the only official English-speaking country in South America and is located in its north-eastern corner, nestled between Suriname, Venezuela and Brazil. The country has been given many labels and with good reason – it’s difficult to describe Guyana with only one. The most common ones are ‘Land of Many Water’ because of its extensive waterways and the ‘Land of Six Peoples’ because of its population’s diverse ethnic origins – Asian (India), African, European, Portuguese, Chinese and Amerindian.  Also known as ‘South America’s Biggest Little Secret’, Guyana could also be called the "Land of Many Extraordinary Wonders". Its virtually untouched and tropical rainforests cover 75% of its territory and teem with extremely rich biodiversity – exotic plant and wildlife – its green gold to be treasured and beheld.

Several impressive biodiversity-conservation-focused projects are being implemented in Guyana and the country is pursuing a low carbon development strategy, championed by President Jagdeo in response to climate change.

Guyana is a paradise for nature lovers in general, bird lovers in particular (with over 800 species), adventure or thrill seekers and the just plain curious (but not faint-hearted) traveller. Guyana has 300 waterfalls including the spectacular famous 741 ft. Kaiteur Falls – the longest single drop waterfall in the world which is five times the height of Niagara Falls. Its terrain comprises sharp contrasts with dense tropical rainforests, Mount Roraima – an ancient 1,700 million year old flat-topped mountain, large savannahs and low-lying coastal areas including Shell Beach.  Not the stereotypical sandy beach but rather – a 90-mile long stretch of fine shells – a nesting ground for hawksbill and other turtle species. Not to be missed is the amazing array of wildlife ranging from the rare and elusive jaguar to the arapaima – the world’s largest fresh water fish, the giant anteater, giant river otters and the largest eagles in South America.

A visit to Guyana will reveal not only such natural and national treasures but can provide rare cultural engagement with its nine Amerinidian groups, several of which have embraced community-based tourism. To really commune with nature and have an Amazon Adventure, visitors can take a guided tour into Guyana’s interior and can stay at ecolodges, some of which are owned and managed by Amerindian communities and others linked to conservation projects or privately owned. For a different wild, (Wild West) experience, visitors may even have the good fortune of seeing a rodeo.

Not to be eclipsed by its natural heritage, Guyana’s diverse cultural heritage is reflected in over 11 unique cultural and festive events annually. Its architectural heritage is also on magnificent display in its capital, Georgetown – "The Garden City" – with wide tree-lined streets, numerous wooden mansions and canals and dykes – a legacy of its English and Dutch colonial past. The St. George’s Cathedral there is the tallest freestanding wooden structure in the world. STC-13 will take place against this exotic and other worldly backdrop and delegates can look forward to informative sessions from leading experts, exciting study tours, social activities and the warm hospitality of the Guyanese people. For more information about STC-13, visit http://www.caribbeanstc.com

For a cornucopia of Caribbean sustainable success stories see: http://www.travelmole.com/news_feature.php?news_id=1151128