Voice of Guyana International

Georgetown , GINA :The commencement of Tourism Awareness Month presents an excellent opportunity for us to reflect on our hopes and expectations of tourism and reaffirm our commitment to contribute to a rapid increase of its advancement through which all Guyanese will benefit.

Those were the sentiments expressed by Acting President Samuel Hinds during his remarks at the opening of the month earlier today.

The event which was held at the Unama Yana was attended by a number of government functionaries including Minister of Tourism Industry and Commerce, Manniram Prashad, Chief Executive Officer of the Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA), Indira Anandjit, President of the Tourism and Hospitality Association of Guyana, Chief Executive Officer of the ICC/CWC Cricket World Cup’s Local Organising Committee, Karan Singh and other stakeholders in the sector.

Tourism, a sector which is being advanced for its potential in employment and foreign exchange earning has over the last few years been a beneficiary of government’s support in budgetary allocations as well as technical support.

Prime Minister Hinds noted that the tourism sector holds tremendous promise despite the perception that employment in the service industry is considered to be menial.

He posited that “tourism, eco-tourism and wilderness tourism is one new economic activity for which Guyana has some advantage and could develop in a big way.”

This he added requires confronting, resolving and reconciling our way of thinking which may tend to dampen our enthusiasm for tourism, welcoming of tourists and our commitment to take great care of our tourists for the duration of their stay in our country.

The Acting Head-of-State said “Our traditional products; sugar, rice, timber, bauxite and gold may at best double of our national income when in effect most of us are hoping to attain income levels five to ten times what it is at present.”

He added that “when we think of work whether it is greatly respected or not we should recognise that all forms of work are service in one way or another to our fellow men and women.”

He noted that the United Kingdom which once led the world in engineering now recognises tourism as the biggest economic sector.

In addition to providing impeccable service the Prime Minister said, special attention must also be given to quality healthcare, safety from diseases, accidents and crimes.

Minister Prashad said “tourism though not a traditional sector by any means has come a long way and much of the progress has been accomplished through the contribution of the private sector.”

He added that “we all have a role to play if we are to be taken seriously as a tourist destination.”

Prashad noted that the Tourism Ministry has been seeking to advance the local tourism sector through participation in a number of international events.

These include participation in the New York Trade Show and the Canadian travel and Transport Fair. Efforts have also been made to promote the local tourism product locally through trade fairs such as Guy-Expo and the Berbice Trade Fair which has become an annual event.

This year’s Tourism Awareness Month will feature a number of events among which are two major exhibitions in Bartica and Berbice.

Other activities include an inter-school debating competition which is aimed at further developing knowledge in the local product.

Tagged: Guyana, tourism

§ One Response to “Tourism Awareness Month Launched in Guyana”

• Tamara says:

  June 11, 2008 at 6:27 pm

  Hope this is a good opportunity for Guyanese to visit Guyana. What I am worried about is the news recently and not distant past about a lot of violence and guns. If you are not already doing so, Government, please go back to the days when strict controls were exercised at ports of entry and access to guns within the country was difficult.
  Please publish if possible the security and safety situation in Guyana. For instance, can we walk about and drink a coconut water without worrying?
  Thanks for your time and space.
  Best wishes.

  vog: Tamara yes you can walk around Guyana drinking coconut water without worrying. we advise regular precautions [stay away from places you're not familiar with. do not walk alone at nights. do not flash money or jewellery etc]

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