Adventure and eco-tourism development plans could get you funding from the Ministry of Tourism, according to Joseph Ross, Minister of Tourism.
Ross was speaking at the launch and handing-over ceremony of the Salybia Recreation and Water Sport Centre on Tuesday.
He urged communities to submit plans for eco and adventure tourism which, he said, will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis because of limited financial and human resources.
’With limited project management resources, the Ministry of Tourism embarked on a partnership with the Salybia Ecological and Tourism Team (SETT), just over one year ago,’ Ross said, the partnership resulted in the recreation centre. He said Suzan Lakhan-Baptiste, SETT’s chairperson, put forward a proposal for the development of the facility which the Ministry ’selectively embraced’ so as to provide a model for future community tourism development.
The centre, which now boasts kayaking tours of the Salybia River, boat rides, fishing trips, nature trails, life guard facilities and upgraded accommodation, was handed over to Nature Seekers, the non-profit organisation now in charge of the operations and management of the facility.
’We shall continue to collaborate with communities to develop tourism projects,’ Ross said.
Indra Sinanan-Ojah Maharaj, Member of Parliament for the area, said that international delegates for the upcoming Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) will be visiting the Toco Lighthouse as part of their tour of the country. She said she hoped they will make the Salybia centre a stop on the way.
Though Ross was unable to say whether Salybia would be on the delegates’ itinerary, he said he will encourage other Ministers to visit the centre for relaxation and rejuvenation purposes. He also promised the support of the Tourism Development Company (TDC) to help with marketing and promotional support as part of the ’Stay to Get Away’ programme.
’The importance of the role of local government in the successful growth of the tourism industry in communities is now increasingly recognised,’ he said.
