Guyana to host Inter-American Congress of Tourism
By Nelson A. King
The Organization of American States (OAS) says it has signed a cooperation agreement with the Government of Guyana for the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) member-state to host this year’s Inter-American Congress of Tourism.
The OAS said on Thursday that the 24th Inter-American Congress will take place March 21-22, 2018. The 23rd Congress was held in Lima, Peru in 2015.
Permanent Representative of Guyana to the OAS, Riyad Insanally, and OAS Secretary General Luis Almagro, signed the agreement at OAS headquarters in Washington, D.C., the organization announced. It will be the first ever high-level OAS meeting in Guyana, OAS officials said, adding that the meeting’s theme will be “Connecting the Americas through Sustainable Tourism.”
“It’s a historic occasion for Guyana,” said Insanally after the signing ceremony. “We look forward with pleasure and anticipation to welcome you all to Guyana.
“For us, sustainable tourism is critical for our development as a nation,” he added.
Almagro noted that tourism can “significantly expand economic opportunities for our citizens. It should be sustainable, ensuring that the economic, social, cultural and environmental elements are fully respected.”
