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Pioneers in domestic and community service, Frank Singh and Sydney Allicock, are among those who have been honoured for their contributions to the development of the tourism industry in Guyana.Allicock has become a leader in community tourism, taking charge of a community tourism and community project in his community of Surama in Region Nine. Singh has become a leader in domestic tourism. He is continuing to offer cheap flights to Kaieteur Falls for locals, while pushing for a safari across the Pakaraima Mountains to be a major link to the national tourism calendar.Frankk SinghThe two tourism pioneers were among 12 honoured at the first awards ceremony held by the Ministry of Tourism and the Guyana Tourism Authority last Saturday evening. The others were Diane McTurk, Donald Sinclair, Wilderness Explorers, Grand Coastal Hotels, The Guyana Trade and Investment Support Project, the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation in Agriculture,wholesale jerseys, Caribbean Airlines, Kirk Smock, Gerry Gouveia, and Air Services Limited.The entire community of Surama, with just about 40 families, is engaged in a community tourism project, while at the same time helping to preserve the community’s greenheart trees. They seek to demonstrate that,Marcus Allen USC Jersey, while the jungle and savannah are still sources of food,china nfl jerseys, employing conservation methods means their continued existence and passing a rich legacy on for generations to come.Sydney AllicockSurama is a 30-minute Land Rover ride away from Annai, the central administrative district of the communities of the North Rupununi, itself some 420 kilometres from the capital, Georgetown.Modern day Surama had its beginning just under 40 years ago. The village today has emerged as a model for community tourism in Guyana, with its conservation efforts drawing considerable attention.Allicock, a one time Toshao, or village leader, noted that the community developed the imaginative task of building a central accommodation facilities area resembling the paw of a jaguar set atop a hill with a lustrous mountain view just off the Burro Burro River, where giant otters play.The lodges, nine of them in all, are named after the remaining nine Amerindian tribes found in Guyana. Four self-contained lodges surround a sizeable main building which has a bar, library,Bill Walton UCLA Jersey, dining room and more.The project was financed from a revolving fund set up by the community and through a loan from the North Rupununi District Development Board.The community is now part of a consortium managing the canopy walkway in the Iwokrama forest on behalf of the Iwokrama International Center for Rainforest Conservation and Development. The others involved are the Rockview Lodge of Annai tour and tour operator Wilderness Explorers.The 154-metre-long Iwokrama canopy walkway was commissioned in late 2003. It consists of three aluminium platforms and five suspension bridges, the first of its kind in the Caribbean and the Guiana Shield.Apart from conserving greenheart trees, the community is also making sustainable use of the Letter tree (also referred to as Leper and Leopard).The tree is common along the Burro Burro River and has in the past been cut down indiscriminately for various uses, including making bows and arrows used for fishing. In addition, it is also used in craft making.Domestic TourismWhen Frank Singh first heard a call by President Bharrat Jagdeo to promote domestic tourism, he jumped on the idea, especially since there were constant complaints by Guyanese that it costs less to visit Barbados and Trinidad than it does to visit a place like Kaieteur Falls.Teaming up with Air Services Limited, the National Parks Commission and the Ministry of Tourism, he first started offering a trip to Kaieteur Falls for US$100, something that many Guyanese signed on to quickly.Currently, Guyanese can go to the Falls for $32,Kris Jenkins Villanova Jersey,000, which is significantly less than the regular price. While Singh does not claim a profit on promoting the domestic tour package to Kaieteur Falls, he says he gets satisfaction when he senses the excitement of Guyanese from all across the country and from all walks of life who grab at the opportunity.Singh has been doing overland tours to Kaieteur Falls, but this caters mainly to overseas tourists. He is trying to design a package that will allow him to offer this type of tour to Guyanese.In addition, Singh is looking to promote a safari to the Pakaraima Mountains as another choice for Guyanese vacationers. The tour moves off from Georgetown and across the Pakaraima Mountains of Region Eight,Villanova Wildcats Jerseys, right on to the Orinduik Falls at the Ireng River, which shares the border with Brazil.Singh operates Rainforest Tours out of Hotel Tower. He has been in the business since 1995, and is confident that the tourism industry is moving forward.For Singh, Guyana is not a place for mass tourism,Junior Seau USC Jersey, since it is a niche destination for eco and adventure tourism.A report on global travel trends, released recently at the World Travel Market (WTM) in London, showed that eco-tourism and “long haul travel” are among the emerging sectors in tourism.Minister of Tourism, Manniram Prashad, said that Guyana is ideally poised to benefit from this market, since this country offers eco and adventure tourism “naturally, abundantly”.He said that the various efforts the Government has been making in promoting Guyana is serving the country well and could attract the vibrant European market.Prashad pointed out that the recent “Lost Land of the Jaguar” series by the BBC helped to generate unprecedented interest in Guyana at WTM, unlike two years ago when “people were just passing, picking up brochures”.Prashad said that he will be satisfied with Guyana’s marketing plan when the country can be included as a destination of choice alongside Costa Rica and Belize.