The host of US fishing show “Reel Adventures” said his planned investment in the sport-fishing sector here is sound as he believes tourists would want to venture into Guyana’s pristine jungle.
Robert Arrington told a press conference that after spending ten days in the wilderness, travelling virgin waterways and exploring Guyana’s untamed beauty his experiences were better than expected. Arrington his cameraman Joshua Gregory and Conservation International (CI) representative Judy Karwacki held the press briefing to give an update on their trip. According to a Government Infor-mation Agency (GINA) press release this is Arrington’s second expedition in Guyana and he is now even more certain that there is great potential among the community of travelling fishers and outdoor enthusiasts who would want to explore the country’s interior.
Arrington and Gregory are also here to film more fishing shows for “Reel Adventures” though their primary goal was to explore the potential to develop five fishing lodges in partnership with Amerindian communities that can be used for catch-and-release sport fishing, birding and scientific research-based trips. The team has explored four rivers in the North Rupununi area covering roughly 280 miles along the Burro Burro, Siparuni, Essequibo, Rupununi and Rewa rivers.
The Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA) and CI were the main supporters of the expedition. The trip was also made possible by assistance from Surama villagers. Wilderness Explorers and Caribbean Airlines also made significant contributions, GINA said. Local boat captains and guides, lead finishing guide Robert Allicock and Captain of Surama Sydney Allicock also comprised the team.
According to GINA “Reel Adven-tures” first expressed an interest in Guyana after James Currie, host of “Birding Adventures”, a partner show that focuses on bird-watching met a group from the Guyana Sustainable Tourism Initiative – a joint GTA/ USAID/Guyana Trade and Investment Support project, at the Guyana exhibit at the 2008 American Birding Association convention.
