– to be launched at World Trade Fair in London
The renowned Harpy Eagle will be the flagship image of Warapoka Village’s imminent tourism package campaign when it is launched by the Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA) and Wilderness Explorers at the World Trade Fair (WTF) this coming December in London.
The team, in collaboration with villagers, is currently preparing a tourism package to be presented at the WTF.
The mostly Warrau village of Warapoka, which is located in the Moruca Sub-district, Region One (Barima-Waini) is an emerging tourism destination with vast potential.
This was highlighted when Vice President and Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs Minister Sydney Allicock led a team from the Ministry, the GTA and Wilderness Explorers there over the weekend.
GTA Director Indranauth Haralsingh, who was on his second visit to the village, believes the product is a remarkable one since conditions are conducive for tourism activities.
The GTA head, who was addressing residents during a community meeting, said he was pleased to see that residents have shown this level of enthusiasm towards this initiative, which he believed has the potential to yield resounding social and economic benefits.
He was particularly pleased to see the level of interest shown by the youths, especially those actively involved in the Hinterland Employment and Youth Service (HEYS) Programme from whom the tourism idea was birthed.
The youths there believe a Harpy Eagle sighting will be a unique experience; this will be augmented by other interesting tours, including experiencing the uniqueness of the spectacular shell mound rocks coupled with breath-taking boating experiences along rivers and creeks and through savannahs.
Villagers, the GTA and representatives from Wilderness Explorers are certain that the marketing strategy, which will be employed, will serve as an impetus to attract international and other tourists, and Haralsingh believes the WTF is the most appropriate forum to promote such an experience.
Vice President Allicock explained to eager residents that hospitality was the basis for success in the business of community-based tourism.
Minister Allicock, who himself is a pioneer in this field, stressed the need for the management of eco-lodges and village guest houses to be mindful of the needs of tourists and adequately meet those needs.
The Minister said he was particularly pleased to see the initiative embraced by residents, more so the youths who are the future of tomorrow.
Allicock pledged to support the village through collaboration with partners to provide the necessary training among other resources necessary to successfully execute this undertaking.
To this end, six persons from the village will be given a two-week opportunity to receive training in hospitality and financial accounting among other critical areas at the Rewa and Surama Eco-Lodges in Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo).
Following this phase, staff from the two Eco-Lodges will travel to Warapoka to assess and give support to the staff there to enhance their service delivery.
Another key area of focus will be first aid.
Wilderness Explorers has already engaged Marcian Gravesandy, who is a Head Nurse at the St Joseph Mercy Hospital and who also continues to be supportive in offering her expertise in emergency medical response.
Additionally, Minister Allicock took the opportunity to hand over a cassava mill and a quantity of sport gear to the village, while Haralsingh also pledged to deliver a water pump for the village’s guest house.
Additional support is also forthcoming from President of the Tourism and Hospitality Association of Guyana (THAG) and Wilderness Explorers Product Development Officer Andrea De Caries, who also pledged to provide bed sheets and nets for the village’s guest house.
Warapoka, which is located between Moruca and Mabaruma but on the Waini River, is home to approximately 50 residents.
The Village’s Toshao is Newton Wilson.
