Amerindians to reap full proceeds from community-based tourism

 

Georgetown, GINA, November 5, 2013

The Government has constantly been encouraging Amerindians living in hinterland and remote areas to think along the lines of community tourism, optimistic that it can bring in substantial revenue to boost their economies.

            A five – year Hinterland Tourism Development Plan beginning this year will focus on tourism opportunities, economic, social and environmental benefits, culture and heritage preservation, and investment opportunities and training.

A beautiful, hinterland scene

The plan announced in Budget 2013 will be accomplished through marketing villages as adventure destinations via film and television producers, and through publications such as sport fishing and birding where viewership and readership are wide.

 

President Donald Ramotar who was in the North West District Region One and the Rupununi Region Nine over the weekend handing over keys to new homes, said Guyana and more particularly the hinterland has an attractive tourism prod

A Karasabai, Region Nine resident showing President Donald Ramotar the art of  cassava bread making

“More and more people are interested in the tourist product that we have… more and more as people develop they want to feel a oneness with nature, and that it why nature is becoming a huge factor…you (villagers) can benefit in a big way,” President Ramotar said.

 

Some communities like the Rewa Eco-Lodge, owned and managed by villagers is a model example of a community- based tourism project that offers tourists an amazing experience with nature.

Orinduik falls, in Region Eight

Hiking, fishing expeditions, canoeing, birdwatching, treks and nature spotting expeditions are on the list of exciting things to do at the Rewa Eco-Lodge which was featured in a 2009 British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) documentary.

President Ramotar assured Amerindians that the villages will be the ones benefitting fully from the proceeds of the tourism product unlike other destinations where a significant quantity of the tourist dollar goes to the offshore investor.

 

“Here we can produce the food, and here we are working with the community to establish the facilities like what is happening now in Rewa… I understand that they are booked up until the end of this year and most of the money that comes to Rewa stays in Rewa.”

Sport fishing at Rewa, Region Nine

Under the five-year Hinterland Tourism Development Plan further, focus will be on hospitality training with the aim of raising standards and improving service quality.

 

Most of Guyana’s beautiful, natural sceneries can be found in the hinterland locations, especially the waterfalls, the rolling savannahs of Region Nine and the Pakaraima Mountain Range.

Items that were skillfully crafted by Amerindians

Generally there is great appreciation for the Amerindians’ way of life, and even though they inhabit the forested areas, they have left little or no footprint, as the environment remains pristine.

 

Their cassava bread is loved by many sections of the multi-ethnic Guyanese society and making the bread is itself greatly admired by visitors. 

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