Georgetown, GINA, February 25, 2004

His Royal Highness, Price Andrew Duke of York, on a two-day visit to Guyana, today visited the Botanical Gardens where a eco-tourism exhibition was mounted. The exhibition was mounted under the theme ‘Sustainable Nature Tourism’. The Prince also participated in a tree planting exercise.
The entities participating in the exhibition were the Ministry of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs; the Guyana Tourism Authority, National Parks Commission, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Tourism and Hospitality Association, Rainforest Tours, Conservation International, Shell Beach and Iwokrama International Conservation.
Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, Manzoor Nadir, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, Willet Hamilton; Permanent Secretary of the Amerindian Affairs, Reginald Brotherson; Head, Guyana Tourism Authority, Donald Sinclair, representatives from the Tourism and Hospitality Association and other nature tourism sites were pre and alluded the various Government and private sector entities that participated.
sent to explain their exhibits.
The Ministry of Amerindian Affairs presented a painting and other craft items to the Prince. That Ministry also mounted a craft exhibition.
First Form students of Queens College’s steel band entertained the Prince and his entourage.
Prince Andrew viewed the exhibition and the animals in the Zoological Park. Prince Andrew expressed the view that Guyana is an amazing country that has tremendous eco-tourism potential.
Minister Nadir pointed out the this was the first time that Guyana has mounted an eco-tourism exhibition.
He noted that the collaborative exhibition, which may be used as an educational event, has highlighted the need for similar events in the future.
Mr. Nadir said that his Ministry could consider hosting a similar exhibition annually during Tourism Awareness Month.
Tourism Awareness Month is observed during the month of November.