Guyana is committed to Muslim-Friendly Tourism.
This was the message that Guyana’s Ambassador to Qatar, Safraaz Ahmad Shadood delivered at the Eleventh Session of the Islamic Conference of Tourism Ministers conference in Baku, Azerbaijan yesterday.
According to the text of his remarks released yesterday by the Ministry of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, Shadood said for its part, the Government of Guyana continues to engage local communities, particularly in the eco-tourism sector, which is a significant part of the tourism industry.
The Ambassador noted that these community-based establishments are primarily owned and operated by Indigenous communities and continue to draw international attention to Destination Guyana and are a key part of Guyana’s sustainable eco-tourism sector.
With Destination Guyana becoming increasingly attractive, he said that the Government has been keen to maximize the socio-economic benefits of a sustainable brand of tourism for these local communities while simultaneously preserving their traditions, culture and heritage.
Shadood told the Organization of Islamic Co-operation (OIC) meeting that Guyana is intent on widening its tourism brand and the development of a Muslim-Friendly Tourism (MFT) brand is part of that vision. According to the Ambassador, Guyana’s tourism product is well aligned with many of the basic principles of Islam including inclusivity, peace, and respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. Further, with Islam being one of the main religions in Guyana, Islamic traditions and principles are well known, celebrated and appreciated across the country. These realities, says Shadood, presents Guyana with a good opportunity to work with local Muslim communities to build on the foundations that are already conducive to the growth of Muslim-Friendly Tourism in Guyana.
Shadood noted that this brand of tourism aligns with the vision of President Irfaan Ali and the creation of a One Guyana, where there is deep intercultural understanding in a multicultural society, where inclusivity characterizes relations among citizens and the government, and where everyone lives in unity and harmony.
“The government is therefore prepared to ensure that Destination Guyana is also welcoming of the Muslim traveler,” he said. To this end, “we are open to investors incorporating Muslim-friendly infrastructure into their construction plans for hotels and restaurants to feature amenities such as prayer rooms and Qibla signage. Mechanisms are already in place to make it standard for service providers, businesses and all tourism-related agencies to be certified Halal. Attention will also be placed on providing facilities for ablution, providing gender-sensitive recreational spaces as well as facilities for the fulfilment of religious obligations. These measures would also contribute to greater understanding among non-Muslims of the values and traditions of Islam,” Shadood said.
Shadood also took the opportunity to affirm Guyana’s support for the Strategic Roadmap for Development of Islamic Tourism in OIC Member States and he underscored that funding for projects to aid capacity development, marketing and promotion both at the national and regional levels are key to their full implementation.
