MINISTER of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, Irfaan Ali says that Guyana and Barbados will sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that will see the twinning of the two Caribbean countries as a joint tourism destination. The acting Tourism Minister was at the time speaking at the 8th Tourism Awards Ceremony on November 21 at the Guyana International Conference Centre at Liliendaal, ECD. He said that the terms of the MoU are currently being discussed and are expect to be signed sometime in December.
JOINT MARKETING
The MoU will facilitate a joint marketing strategy for the two countries as a single tourism destination, he said. It is expected to bring benefits to the local tourism sector as well as tourism in Barbados.

“This is an excellent move of twinning Guyana and Barbados as a common destination in the Region. You can have tourists who can get the best eco-tourism and still enjoy the sun and the sea in one package,” Minister Ali noted.
He pointed out that this is the direction in which tourism is progressing and decisions such as these need to be taken in order to remain competitive and maintain a share in the tourism market. The Minister also emphasised that every country in the Region has something unique to offer and when they compete with the world, they should do so as a single destination.
“The Region is competing with the world and for us to be successful; we have to pool our talents and resources together. We are too small in the Region to ever believe that we can compete out there alone,” he said.
Ali noted that through the Caribbean Tourism Authority (CTO), the Caribbean can create better tourism packages since each country has its own diverse products that they will bring to the table. He also called for collaboration, cooperation and cohesion in the Region since “this is where the Region is heading.”
Barbados Tourism Minister Richard Sealy, who is also the Chairman of the CTO, endorsed Ali’s call for more countries to collaborate while noting that this venture the two countries are about to embark on will see much economic benefits. He lauded the efforts of the Guyana Government in promoting its tourism sector even though “your country is so diverse that tourism is only one aspect of your economy.”
Sealy, also speaking at the awards ceremony, explained that with increased annual tourism figures worldwide, this provides an abundance of opportunities to diversify the Region’s tourism products.
He noted that recently the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) reported that in 2013, the Asian Pacific Region recorded its strongest growth with six percent increase in arrivals with the European and African Region following with a five per cent increase. But the North, South and Central Americas and the Caribbean recorded a three percent increase in arrivals which clearly reflects the importance of collaboration among countries in the Region to find solutions to sustain the sector, he explained.
The Barbadian Tourism Minister said also that the UNWTO reported in 2014 that between January and August, international tourism arrivals were recorded at 781 million, 36 million more than the same period in 2013. The Americas on the other hand are in the lead with an eight percent growth during those first eight months of this year.
“The Region is facing serious competition. Every part of the planet is into tourism and everyone is into tourism… places you associate with civil war and strife is there wooing tourism business and attracting investments,” he observed.
He added that the Caribbean saw a 4% increase in arrivals between January and September this year, while Guyana alone increased by 7.4% which is more than the growth rate of the Caribbean.