By Priya Nauth
A SPECIAL domestic tourism package, to afford Guyanese the opportunity to visit and experience the beauty and wonders of Kaieteur Falls, was put on offer, again, yesterday at Air Services Limited (ASL), Ogle Airport, East Coast Demerara.

It was made possible through the collaborative efforts of ASL, Rainforests Tours, Kaieteur National Park (KNP) and National Parks Commission (NPC).

The reduced price of $32,000 per person, from $54,000, is already on offer and will continue to be available every Saturday until the last one in August and flights are departing Ogle at noon.

Those who take advantage of the cheaper fare will get to see sheer drop of 741 feet in the total 822 feet falls from which water flows at a rate of 30 million gallons a minute.

This is the sixth year since this bargain has been made available and, speaking to the media, Managing Director of Rainforest Tours, Mr. Frank Singh recalled it started with a call, by President Bharrat Jagdeo, to develop domestic tourism, by private tour operators making tourist sites more affordable and accessible to the local population.

“A lot of people were saying that it is much cheaper to go to Trinidad. Well now we are making it affordable to go to Kaieteur which is cheaper than going to Trinidad,” Singh pointed out.

He said the charge includes the seat on the aircraft, the National Park permit, the tour guide and transportation, so all the passenger has to do is carry a snack pack.

Singh said the concession will not only allow Guyanese to see the magnificent falls but, more than that, they would be able to experience and learn about the culture, history and biodiversity of the surrounding KNP.

He disclosed that, since the promotion began, every year it is attracting more and more response.

“What is happening now is it is kind of word of mouth and I have noticed that the people who are going on these trips are more from out of Georgetown,” Singh said.

He said those who have made the journey would share their enjoyment with others and encouraging them to do likewise.

Reservations can be made at Rainforest Tours office, at Lot 232 Middle and Camp Streets, in the city, or by calling telephone number 231-5661.

Flight Operations Superintendent, Ms. Annette Arjoon said: “We are committed to the development of tourism in Guyana, which is why we are here today.”

She said the tourists will have opportunities to photograph and enjoy the breathtaking beauty of the rainforest during the one-hour flight.

Arjoon suggested that, in light of President Jagdeo’s Low Carbon Development Strategy, passengers can see and learn more about the rainforests while flying.