BERLIN—Guyana has been named the No. 1 “Best of
Ecotourism” destination in the world. The award was presented to Guyana at
the ITB global travel trade fair in Berlin, Germany. The second annual “Best of
Top 100” Awards is a selection of the finest top 100 destinations
selected by a panel of experts who reviewed sustainability success stories
submitted by destinations worldwide. The newly created “Best of Ecotourism”
category was added in 2019 and put Guyana up against very well-known and
experienced ecotourism destinations like Sierra Gorda in Mexico,
Tmatboey in Cambodia and the Galapagos Islands in Ecuador.
The announcement was made at Berlin’s Messe Berlin exhibition grounds by Albert
Salman, President of Green Destinations Foundation. Brian T. Mullis, Director
of the Guyana Tourism Authority was in attendance to accept the award on behalf
of Guyana.
“Guyana has expended considerable effort in recent years not only to develop
new and innovative eco-friendly tourism products as a part of the national
Green State Development Strategy, but also to incorporate sustainable tourism
best practice into all aspects of its strategy, planning and programming
while educating the world about its deep commitment to maximizing the positive
socio-economic and conservation outcomes from tourism,” Mullis said. “It is a
tremendous honor for us to be recognized globally alongside our fellow leaders
in eco- and sustainable tourism.”
The Next ‘Must-See’ Destination
Guyana is positioned as the next must-see destination for travelers. With daily
non-stop flights already available from New York, Miami and Toronto and direct
routes available from Europe through sister Caribbean countries, and it being
the only English-speaking country in South America, travelers can experience
vibrant indigenous culture, rich history, and hospitable and friendly people in
the language both parties know best. Guyana has also recently become the first
country to adopt the Adventure Travel Trade Association’s International
Adventure Travel Guide Qualification & Performance Standards.
When asked about Guyana’s selection as No. 1 in the “Best of Ecotourism”
category, Salman said, “The Top 100 Awards Jury was
impressed by the dossier prepared by Guyana Tourism Authority for the Top 100 nomination
and by the success stories submitted of Surama and Rewa. Both
these eco lodges have ambitious and admirable goals and successes, are
community-owned and led, and aim at preserving Guyana’s ecosystems and
indigenous traditions. The Jury also liked that Guyana has a policy of a
‘Green, Inclusive and Prosperous Guyana’ that provides a good quality of life
for all its citizens based on a sound education and social protection,
low-carbon resilient development, green and decent jobs, economic
opportunities, individual equality, justice, and political empowerment.”
About Guyana, ‘South America Undiscovered’
Largely unknown to the world, Guyana is a small South American
country that represents six ethnicities and a rich Amerindian culture. Bordered
by Brazil, Suriname and Venezuela, Guyana is part of the revered Guiana Shield,
one of the world’s most biodiverse regions that includes many endemic species
and South America’s “Land of the Giants.” Guyana possesses Atlantic beaches to
the north, staggering mountain ranges to the west, never-ending savannahs to
the south and 18 percent of the world’s tropical rainforests.
