Wedding expo helps in promoting small businesses

President Donald Ramotar has called for the maintenance of the institution of marriage as he opened the fifth Wedding Expo at Duke Lodge, Kingston on Friday. The expo was launched in January this year.
“These types of activities reflect the dynamism in society… it is good that we host these elegant events,” he stated.
He said the expo is a growing activity which has been contributing to the country’s tourism sector. “This has been growing over the years and is important for tourism and Guyana’s economy as a whole,” he said, adding “We have beautiful sceneries in Guyana, and of course, we have work to do, but our country…Georgetown is beautiful and events such as these are very important to promote Guyana’s tourism products,” he said.

Roraima Group of Companies Managing Director, Captain Gerald Gouveia said the Wedding Expo is expected to strengthen the institution of marriage and promote small businesses while increasing interest in domestic tourism.
He said the initiative is geared at promoting wedding tourism in Guyana. He noted that while Guyana is hosting its fifth expo and other Caribbean countries are years ahead, the country is well on its way in this regard.
Gouveia also said he has been lobbying for government to revise the legislation which governs weddings in Guyana, a move aimed at promoting wedding tourism in the country.
Georgetown Chambers of Commerce President Clinton Urling, who was also present at the launch, stated that Wedding Expo is not only contributing to the economy, but has been a major contributing factor to the growth of small businesses in Guyana.
During the launch of the event in January, acting Tourism Minister Irfaan Ali stated that one of the major setbacks remains the outdated legislation overriding the time in which one can be registered and licensed to get marry.
“We are looking to engage the attorney general in looking at the legislation as against what is the norm throughout the region and to have the recommended changes done in the shortest timeframe…we are looking for this to be done before the end of this year,” Ali said.
He posited that Guyana’s tourism product portfolio needs to be diversified and that weddings can play a key role in doing so. He explained that Guyana can capitalise on numerous venues and infrastructure, as well as the large diaspora who spend large sums on weddings.
The minister stated that though the Wedding Expo is in its budding phase, it has immense potential to contribute to the tourism product in the country.