GUYANA’S inaugural ‘Resort Week’ kicked off on Friday with resorts offering discounted rates to patrons desirous of experiencing Guyana and all the country has to offer.

Resort week runs from December 28, 2018 to January 6, 2019. Here, for just US$150, at a standard price across all participating resorts, persons would receive a full day of various activities.

According to President of the Tourism and Hospitality Association of Guyana (THAG) and Chief Financial Officer of Roraima Airways, Mitra Ramkumar, “What we’re doing is we’re trying to encourage domestic tourism.”

Similar to the now popular Restaurant Week, Resort Week aims to encourage locals to visit places in Guyana as part of the drive to foster an interest in the tourism sector. Ramkumar acknowledged previously that persons may be dissuaded because of the prices to visit some resorts, and as such, the reduced rated offered through the week allows them to experience the country.

Speaking on the package offered through Roraima Group of Companies, at Arrowpoint Resort, Ramkumar said: “It’s a huge discount… it’s almost 50 per cent off of the usual price.”

And while the week only began for the first time on Friday, Ramkumar said THAG and the Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA) will be working along with the resorts to see how the week has impacted support.

He indicated too that at Arrowpoint specifically, persons are not yet fully aware of the deals offered but he is certain that more persons will become aware. A family of seven however booked spots at the resort on Friday.

At the Mainstay Resort located at the Whyaka Village on the Essequibo Coast, Marketing manager Conroy Moore indicated that while persons have reached out to book spots at the resort for the weekend and upcoming week, they have not yet specifically reached out for the Resort Week package.

Similarly, he shared that the resort is offering a package for US $150 where persons can enjoy three meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner) along with all the activities offered on the island.

In an attempt to bolster the local tourism sector, Ramkumar highlighted too that the resorts are working in conjunction with the local tour operators and transportation providers to allow more players within the industry to benefit.

This, according to him, is all part of the drive to promote domestic tourism.