LATIN AMERICA OVERVIEW
“Sustainability and ‘green growth’ are at the core of our initiatives”
year and Rio will be in the spotlight as Unesco’s World Capital of Architecture 2020. Argentina and Chile (LA500) gained a tourism boost from the solar eclipse this July and will again next December.
LANDMARK MOMENTS Costa Rica (LA200) this year welcomed its 29th national park, the Miravalles Volcano national park – Jorge Manuel Dengo. Brazil has meanwhile gained Unesco World Heritage Site status for Paraty and Ilha Grande, where visitors can expect white- sand beaches, small islands and lush rainforest. Brazilian rainforest fires hit headlines this year
but Latin America is making important strides in sustainable tourism. Guyana (CA122) has launched a Green State Agenda (see right) and Costa Rica has unveiled an ambitious carbon emissions target. “Costa Rica aims to become among the first
countries to achieve total decarbonisation by 2050,” explains Costa Rica’s tourism minister Maria Amalia Revelo Raventos. “Sustainability and ‘green growth’ are at the core of our initiatives and will continue to be our main priorities for 2020.” Meanwhile, Metropolitan Touring (LA12) is
among operators to introduce new offset schemes and a children’s shelter in Peru’s Sacred Valley, launched with the proceeds from Sol y Luna hotel. Lata’s Stewart says: “We expect to see more infrastructural development across the region as it is made aware of the positive impact sustainable tourism can have. From the more mature travel markets we anticipate lesser-known destinations featuring in more itineraries, satisfying the desire for more off-the-beaten-track destinations, while growing inbound markets such as China should provide new opportunities for established tourism destinations.”
GUYANA’S GREEN STATE AGENDA
Brian Mullis, director of the Guyana Tourism Authority and founder of Sustainable Travel International (US), outlines the development of community-led tourism in the destination
Guyana offers the opportunity to have some extraordinary travel experiences that are virtually unheard of today, like travelling great distances without seeing any sign of another human, having a national icon like Kaieteur Falls all to yourself, or interacting with indigenous people in their villages. We have implemented a national
Guyana Tourism Strategic Action Plan and developed new sustainable tourism policies and regulations. We’re supporting the development of community-owned and managed enterprises in indigenous communities, to create strategic partnerships with key stakeholders, benchmark against the Green Destination Standard and promote sustainable travel. Surama, Rewa, and Yupukari are
indigenous villages in the North Rupununi area that exemplify community-led and owned tourism that benefits the entire community while protecting their natural and cultural heritage. The local Makushi community of Rewa, for example, has curated wildlife-spotting and other activities for guests, including catch-and-release fishing of arapaima. Roughly 60% of their income is generated through tourism. We’ve developed a toolkit to scale up this model in other receptive indigenous communities. The most difficult and rewarding aspect involves providing them with the know-how to take ownership of their tourism development, so they can become successful, self-reliant entrepreneurs. Our website,
guyanatourism.com, has
more visitor information and we can help with itineraries.
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