Guyana adds adventure and nature tourism to the regional package

By Michael Younge

The Tourism Ministry has disclosed some big plans aimed at further penetrating the tourism markets locally, regionally and internationally. Acting Tourism Minister Irfaan Ali speaking to a packed room of media operatives last Friday announced his intention to ensure that the first quarter of 2013 results in resounding successes for the country’s tourism development agenda.

He said he was satisfied with the gains made in all sectors of the tourism industry which saw Guyana not only improving its performance in critical markets overseas, but cementing its own tourism identity among increasing competition for the small regional tourism pie.

This year, the ministry will execute its tourism work agenda under the theme “Rediscover Home: celebrate your life, celebrate your home”. “It is our belief that 2012 provided an excellent platform through which we can continue the expansion in 2013,” Ali reported.

He said the previous “Rediscover Home” theme has seen the ministry solidifying gains in various problematic areas, which had posed significant challenges to the forward movement of the sector.

Bolster regional relationships
The tourism minister announced that the first quarter initiatives aim to bolster a better working relationship with other Caricom countries that are competing in the tourism sector, as he advocated the need for more joint tourism ventures.

Ali said if more countries within the regional integration movement worked on crafting joint tourism ventures, thousands of visitors would be enticed to visit a group of countries to experience the similar yet different tourism products and experiences. This is particularly important as no one country can dominate the sector for a protracted period.

“There is a greater blend of travellers that travel within a group, and that group would have different interests and the Caribbean loses out a lot because of its focus only on sand, sun, sea”, he reasoned, arguing that Guyana wishes to add adventure and nature tourism to the collective regional package, improving its variety and attractiveness. He said discussions are already ongoing to broker some deal in this respect for 2013.

Ali has also announced a number of international media outlets, including newspapers and magazines as well as production and film companies, are scheduled to visit Guyana during the first quarter to undertake various tourism projects, which will benefit the country’s tourism drive.

The BBC, the Discovery Channel, the History Channel, Adventure Life, and several travel writers as well as producers of documentaries and films will arrive in Guyana to continue series focusing largely on adventurism, nature and a healthy green economy.

Millions of readers and viewers around the world will be introduced to the Guyana experience via these productions.

Gy$ 25 billion investments
Ali also announced that the sector would attract Gy$ 25 billion in investment from 14 local tourism investors.
These investments range from the establishment of resorts and expansion of hotels to the establishment of multi complex entertainment centres.

During the first quarter, efforts will be made to improve air transportation services, which have posed massive challenges in 2012.

The minister reported that discussions are expected to ensure between the government and West Jet, Air Canada and Jet Blue to offer air services to the travelling public to ease the complications caused by the collapse of both REDjet and EZjet. He said that the administration remained proactive and hopes to continue to attract hundreds of tourists both during the peak and off-peak seasons. He disclosed that there was a 7.2 per cent increase in arrivals last year compared with the 2011 figures which recorded some 137, 000 visitors as at November. The figures increased to 161, 000 at November 2012.