Five ecolodges have been certified with the Good Travel Seal Green Destinations Certificate for sustainable practices, the Department of Public Information (DPI) said yesterday.
These include Atta Rainforest Lodge, Caiman House Ecolodge, Iwokrama River Lodge, Karanambu Ecolodge and Rewa Eco-Lodge.
DPI said that the recognition was presented by Green Certificate, a company in The Netherlands. It added that the certification is recognised by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council.
Tourism, Industry and Commerce Minister, Oneidge Walrond said that government recognises that tourism is one of the pillars of development and as such certification is necessary for the country to build and expand. She said that certifying the ecolodges is a great accomplishment for Guyana.
“So, we need to preserve what we have and it’s not only for us but it’s for generations to come. Government is doing its part in bringing people to the destinations and it’s an excellent opportunity because our products are so beautiful, its ready-made and it’s just for us to jump in, take the risks and the opportunities,” the minister said.
Managing Director of Karanambu Lodge and President of Visit Rupununi, Melanie McTurk said, “It’s nice to have that third party validation for the work and commitment that you have been showing not just today or tomorrow, but for the last five years.
“I think that this process is one of those wonderful process that help to give validation to those tremendous efforts.”
Supervisor of Atta Rainforest Lodge, Udel Edwin added, “I want to thank the ministry and GTA for initiating this project and taking the first step to ensuring that ecolodges are certified.”
Extensive audits were conducted to ensure that the lodges are operating in a sustainable manner. Detailed reports include the sales, water conservation, management, wildlife, and customer service for each establishment, DPI said.
