Local tourism must be pushed

TIMES INT'L

Dear Editor,

The fact that several international, regional and local media operatives were given a tour of the mighty Essequibo River is very noteworthy.

The tour was facilitated; compliments of BK International, and it redounded in a lot of positives. The exercise was the first event to usher in the Caribbean Tourism Organisation’s 13th Annual Caribbean Conference on Sustainable Tourism Development (STC-13), which was held from April 15 to 18.

Now one of the first benefits I can think of is that the BKs of Guyana can offer these kinds of touring packages to the general citizenry.

They do not have to be ‘gift exercises’ either. I am very sure that they can turn out to be profitable yet non-exploitative. Tourism in Guyana, for Guyanese should be emphasised. It can combine entertainment, exploration and education.

Guyana is so huge, and travel can be cumbersome, so stakeholders must seek to be innovative. I really feel left out now that the lucky journalists were so well blessed. In fact, the word is that they were amazed by the exotic nature and historic sites located in that part of the country.

I sometimes go up the Essequibo River, and the feeling is one of absolute grandeur. The many historic sites are usually left untended, but I am sure all of this is beginning to change.

The fact that there was this expedition serves for a good word for Guyana as well, when it comes to marketing the country.

Already, certain sections of the media are bent on sullying Guyana. I agree that Guyana is not a land of opulence, but that does not take away from the many positives. So the journalists from the United Kingdom, Canada, Venezuela, the United States, and several Caribbean territories now have a chance to write, and based on evidence too, that Guyana is pristine, exotic and alluring.

I am hoping that being reminded of Fort Island, Fort Zeelandia and the mining town of Bartica will inspire the local media operatives that journalism is not limited to news reporting.

In fact, history via pictures is so easy to pounce on. So maybe in the very near future, historical magazines will be made available.

 

Yours truly,

Rajendra Persaud

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