Pará and French Guiana strengthen cooperation to boost tourism in the Amazon
Meeting between authorities addressed air connectivity, institutional exchange, and facilitation of travel between the two territories
The Government of Pará is advancing in international arrangements aimed at strengthening tourism and regional integration in the Amazon. This Wednesday (22), the State Secretary of Tourism, Eduardo Costa, received in Belém representatives from the Territorial Collectivity of French Guiana (CTG) to align joint actions in the areas of air connectivity, institutional exchange, and sustainable economic development. The meeting, held at the headquarters of the Permanent Representation of the CTG in Brazil, reinforced Pará's role as a protagonist in international cooperation agendas leading up to the 30th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP30).
The mission was led by the vice-president of the CTG, Jean-Luk Lewest, who also presides over the Tourism Committee and the Cayenne International Airport, and had a strategic character in bringing the two Amazonian territories closer together to build policies aimed at tourism and the green economy. The meeting also discussed strengthening diplomatic relations and creating public-private partnerships that promote integration between Pará and French Guiana.
According to Eduardo Costa, the meeting was important to reinforce Pará's prominence in international arrangements focused on sustainable tourism in the Amazon. “We are building strategic bridges with neighboring countries, seeking new investment opportunities, air connectivity, and enhancing the Amazon as a global destination. This rapprochement with French Guiana is an essential step in this process,” said the secretary.
The delegation also included the permanent representative of the CTG in Belém, Christian Haridas; the director of Tourism of French Guiana, Loic Buzaré; and advisors Hugo Kloeckner and Franck Chow-Toun, responsible for economic, technical, and institutional cooperation.
Facilitation of travel and Amazon integration — During the meeting, topics such as the challenges of regional air mobility and strengthening tourist routes between the two destinations were discussed. Among the resolutions, the drafting of a joint request, to be signed by Eduardo Costa and Jean-Luk Lewest, was highlighted, requesting the revocation of the visa requirement for Brazilians traveling to French Guiana. The document will be delivered to the President of France during COP30 in Belém, as part of a diplomatic action aimed at Amazon integration and sustainable development.
Exchange and tourism promotion — The authorities also discussed the realization of a famtour (familiarization trip) involving tourism professionals from Pará and French Guiana, as well as the participation of Secretary Eduardo Costa as a guest of honor at the Salon du Tourisme de Guyane, scheduled for March 2026. In return, Vice-President Jean-Luk Lewest confirmed his presence at the next edition of the International Tourism Fair of the Amazon (FITA), also in 2026, consolidating the institutional exchange between the two countries.
Under the leadership of Christian Haridas, the Permanent Representation of the Territorial Collectivity of French Guiana acts as an instrument of regional integration, promoting actions in the areas of diplomacy, economy, research, infrastructure, culture, and sustainable development, with the aim of strengthening bilateral relations and implementing long-term cooperation projects.
