Acting Tourism, Industry and Commerce Minister Irfaan Ali said in the coming years, some Gy$32.5 billion will be invested in the tourism sector.
Ali made the announcement while addressing the launch of Tourism Awareness Month last week at the Guyana International Conference Centre, Liliendaal, Greater Georgetown. Ali, delivering the feature address, said the tourism sector is poised for major expansion, outlining some future plans such as the upcoming launch of a direct flight service to the U.S. on December 4, the construction of a new golf course on the Linden-Soesdyke Highway, a five-star rated revolving restaurant, two new hotels in Georgetown and several eco-tourism resorts under construction. These represent about Gy$32.5 billion in investments in the sector, in addition to the Marriott Hotel.
Ali said too that there was also more interest from Latin and South American countries in the tourism sector, and in order to capitalise on this, there must be investments in human capital, and in new and improved infrastructure for the tourism sector. As part of this effort, it was announced that a National Institute of Hospitality will be built in a joint effort between government and the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB).
Tourism Awareness Month 2013 is being held under the theme, “Communication and Information Sharing for Tourism Development”.
According to a Government Information Agency (GINA) report, the sector currently generates billions of dollars while providing jobs for approximately 10,000 people, but the quality of what is offered locally needs to be improved if the industry is to achieve greater heights, according to the minister.
CTO lauds Guyana
The minister, who described the formal launch of the month at the Guyana International Conference Centre as a “bitter-sweet” occasion, said the most recent figures from the Caribbean Tourism Organisation (CTO), praised Guyana for its progress, and cited an increase of 13.5 percent in visitors. He acknowledged that much more needs to be done, and outlined several of the challenges facing the sector. He said while Guyanese can celebrate their country’s tourism product, “we have to be clear about what we are offering, especially in the eco-tourism sector”.
Citing the efforts and marketing of honey produced by the single mothers’ group attached to the Mangrove Project at Cove and John, East Coast Demerara, the minister said it was an example of what was possible locally.
“Human, cultural and service changes are needed to complement the infrastructural changes occurring,” he urged. Once this is done, the tourism sector could actually become a major livelihood option for many Guyanese. “All of us must respond to the problems, not hide from them,” Minister Ali stated.
The efforts of Dr Bobby Ramroop to buy the Amazon Warriors team and sponsor the Guyana leg of the recently-held Caribbean Premier League (CPL) cricket tournament were lauded as an example of what could be achieved with forward thinking, and good business acumen, Minister Ali noted. He said as a result, Limacol brand awareness has been increased and businesses in India and other Asian countries are now interested in what Guyana has to offer, not only in goods and services, but in tourism.
A call for the media to be more nationalistic and patriotic was also made by Minister Ali. He acknowledged that while every country has issues, their media recognise the need to sell their individual country and what they have to offer. He chided some sections of the local media for their sensationalist front pages, noting that the media in other countries which are affected by worse crimes desist from doing the same.
Touching on the hospitality aspect, he noted that the Marriott Hotel’s construction and the Cheddi Jagan Airport expansion project, are “absolutely essential” to offering better services and increasing Guyana’s visibility in overseas markets. The country’s diplomatic partners also can play a role in increasing Guyana’s outlook abroad, said the minister.
South Rupununi Safari
Meanwhile, the inaugural South Rupununi Savannah Safari was also launched Thursday evening. The event, which follows the successful Pakaraima Mountains Safari, will run from November 27 to December 1. It is open to drivers of all-terrain (4×4) vehicles; participants who pay a fee of Gy$15,000 at the Tower Hotel, will experience outdoor camping amid majestic scenery, according to organiser Frank Singh. He said the approximately 1000 mile round trip from Georgetown to Achiwib will see participants visit at least 10 indigenous communities, the largest ranch in South America and glimpse lots of wildlife. The high point will be visiting Lethem for the community’s expo on November 30.
