–‘Exciting time for tourism’ says THAG President

THE Ministry of Tourism on Monday started discussions with the Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA) and the Tourism and Hospitality Association of Guyana (THAG) on preparations and plans for Budget 2015 in order to present it to the Minister of Finance by Friday.

At a press briefing held at the Housing Ministry’s Boardroom, acting Tourism Minister Irfaan Ali said this is the first official meeting that the Ministry of Tourism, GTA and THAG will conduct to address concerns the associations might have, issues they would like to see addressed and some of the positive outcomes from over the years that the three entities would like to see expanded.

MARKETING AND COMPLIANCE
Ali noted that one of the major plans for 2015 is the focus on marketing and compliance for the tourism sector.

“Marketing as we know is for the entire section, and we would like to see 2015 as the year for marketing and compliance,” he said.

He said that compliance is a major concern by the section and the aim is to have all entities within the sector adhere to rules, regulations and procedures.

“Tourism for Guyana is very expensive because of the type of tourism and the placement of our tourism product that Guyana possesses,” Ali observed, so with this in mind the entities will be discussing added incentives and taxation.

“Incentives to be given to promote easier mode of travel and to acquire assets to benefit the sector will be looked at,” Ali said.
The Tourism Minister indicated that the Government as well as the private sector would like to see a bigger participation by Guyana in the world travel market.

ARRIVALS HIGHEST EVER
“On the positive side our arrivals in July and August were recorded at the highest ever and this is for the period between 1995 to 2014.”

The Minister said also that the sector will be discussing the expansion of airstrips in interior locations, especially Lethem. “We now have to look at Lethem as a major hub.”

MARINA
Meanwhile, he disclosed that a private company has shown interest in building a modern boatyard and marina.

The Ministry of Tourism in November of this year will be launching a new logo and tag line, Ali said. “It will be the official brand and must be carried on all tourism brochures and anything related to the sector; all operators will have to use the new logo.”

FILMING
Currently the Tourism Ministry has a number of ongoing discussions and projects, the Minister added. “We have in the country presently the ‘Naked and Afraid’ production team, where three episodes will be filmed here in Guyana.” An application was received from the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) for filming in Guyana that will be focusing on the history of the slave trade and the budget for this production is estimated at US$14.5B where one part will be filmed in Guyana. The country, he noted, was also recently featured in the Washington Times.

The Minister emphasised that he would like to see “that all of Guyana adopt 2015 as a year for tourism, as a year for marketing of Guyana.”

And speaking on behalf of THAG, new president Shaun McGrath supported the Tourism Minister’s position that tourism takes a collaborative effort from both the private and public sectors “as in terms of the budget we have been lobbying for the tourism sector to get its due recognition as a contributor to Guyana’s economy.”

He pointed out also that the incentives and taxation are much needed so as to make the sector more viable. “We do a lot of things in the interior and transportation to this location is very expensive, therefore making our product very expensive,” McGrath said.

EXPORT INDUSTRY
“Tourism is an export industry, just because nothing leaves the country does not mean we are not an export industry” McGrath emphasised.

He explained that “this is very unique to our product because we earn hard currency but our product does not leave the country.”

However, the Value Added Tax (VAT), McGrath contended, is posing a problem since for other tourism countries the tourism sector is treated differently but in Guyana it is treated the same way across the broad. This, he explained, makes our product very expensive and uncompetitive.

McGrath said that THAG will be launching an online booking engine for THAG members in November. Places that were not available for booking before will now be as they have signed a contract with a company that has provided the same service for numerous countries within the region.

“Nearly every property will be available for online booking by November.”

In conclusion, the THAG president said, “this is an exciting time for tourism in Guyana,” adding that a comprehensive marketing plan needs to be addressed “with every US$1 we spend we can earn US$11.”

(By Rebecca Ganesh-Ally)