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Guyana wants single ICT space across South America
President
David Granger
Given the importance of information connectivity among countries, Guyana is pushing to ensure the establishment of a single Information Communication Technology (ICT) space across South America.
The President raised the creation of the ICT space at the Organisation of American States’ (OAS) 24th Inter-American Congress of Ministers and High-Level Authorities of Tourism at the Marriott, Georgetown.
President David Granger had remarked that small island-states tend to lack the resources to finance their own air and shipping lines so that new routes can be exploited to boost tourist arrivals.
He added that travel needs to be cheaper, easier and faster while destinations need to be connected efficiently to make tourism more competitive with our parts of the world. He encouraged the consideration of a roadmap to create a single ICT space of the Americas.
“The Americas can straddle the sea and integrate the continents, North and South through information and communications technology,” President Granger stated.
Minister of Public Telecommunications, Catherine Hughes, during her presentation to the congress explained the significant role the ICT sector plays in the development of the sustainable tourism industry and its supply chain.
“Access to the internet has had a massive impact on the travel and tourism industry with the development of millions of websites, reservation systems, online booking agencies, access to online tour operators and the traditional travel agent,” she said.
The Minister further explained that the rapid technological advancement over the last two decades has transformed the global tourism industry, especially with the development of the mobile phone and supporting high-speed data services.
“Today’s industry is characterised by a combination of technologies such as an array of mobile apps that offer a range of activities and access to social media networks that allow any potential visitor, in any part of the world to sit in their home or office and plan their vacation…regardless of their interest or particular niche.”
Recounting the government’s focus in creating a digital Guyana, Minister Hughes said, “Guyana has become a new world frontier for industrial development and growth with better economies, for technological expansion, for real development of tourism in all its sectors.”
To date, over one hundred high schools have internet connection, 85 communities have established ICT hubs, and several government agencies now have online access.
Over the years, Guyana has been laying a path for tourism synergies with its neighbours in South America and other Caribbean countries with the intention to place its eco-tourism package on the global map.
Minister Hughes believes the agenda can only be achieved with sustained good relations, discussions and support from participating OAS member states and Caribbean countries.
At the conclusion of the congress, delegates signed on to the ‘Declaration of Georgetown’, which among other things, encourages the establishment and strengthening of public-private partnerships among the different actors of the tourist sector that contribute to improving the connectivity of the sub-regions of the Americas and promote the development of sustainable tourism.
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