Tourism as a viable means of alleviating poverty –  Minister of Business

DPI, Guyana, Wednesday, March 21, 2018

In brief opening remarks at the XXIV Inter-American Congress of Ministers and High-Level Authorities on Tourism earlier today, Minister of Business Dominic Gaskin said, “We see tourism as a viable means of alleviating poverty.”

Minister of Business Dominic Gaskin.

Minister Gaskin said sustainable tourism is the only option for securing long-term benefits from this particular economic activity and pledged Guyana’s commitment to ensuring the development of the region’s tourism industry.

“So, for us, this conference is an important platform for our own development agenda but more importantly we understand that the future of the Caribbean and Guyana is integrally connected to the future of the Americas, and we are keen to play a part in developing the bigger picture”, Minister Gaskin said.

Executive Secretary of the Secretariat for Integral Development (SEDI), Kim Osborne said the Congress has presented an opportunity for cooperation and collaboration for the enhancement of the region’s tourism product.

Executive Secretary of SEDI, Kim Osborne.

“This conference enjoys the good fortune to have in its midst ministers and higher-level authorities of tourism of the majority of OAS member states as well as representatives of the private sector and civil society groups and academia. Together we have the opportunity to advance cooperation and collaboration to adopt concrete plans to better connect the Americas and pursue our collective development objectives”, Osborne noted.

Further, Osborne added that the ‘Declaration of Georgetown’ document, an anticipated end result of the congress, will form the basis for the development of partnerships for the growth of the tourism industry in the Americas.

“I believe that these efforts can build on the legacy of 2017 as the international year of Sustainable Tourism for economic development and propel and enhance the role of tourism, within our countries. The ‘Declaration of Georgetown’ you will consider during this conference will be the document to outline this pact. The OAS will be your partner and we will continue to support the efforts of member states to realise this mandate,” the Executive Secretary said.

The twenty-fourth congress of the OAS opened today, at the Guyana Marriott Hotel. It is the first ever OAS meeting to be held locally. It brings together ministers and high-level officials of tourism, as the organisation seeks to enhance the region’s multi-destination potential.

 

By: Kidackie Amsterdam

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