Minister Prashad reports…
MINISTER of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, Mr. Manniram Prashad, disclosed yesterday that all August incoming flights to Guyana have been fully booked.

He was, at the time, speaking about Jamzone Summer Break 2009 which will host events from August 27 to 30.

Prashad said even the extra flights being scheduled by airlines are filled.

He said the Canadian carrier, SkyService, which returned from June 30 and is flying the route through September 8, has direct flights every Tuesday and every other Saturday from Toronto.

Prashad also unveiled a Summer 2009 calendar, including different activities countrywide, among them Emancipation Day, Wakenaam Nite, Digicel Summer Duck Curry Competition, Naya Zamana, the first ever Mahdia Expo, Biker Fest, Lake Mainstay Summer Regatta, a T20 cricket match, Guyana Wrestle Mania, Guyana Fashion Weekend, Watz Hott Guyana and Hamburg Beach/Tiger Island Jamboree.

He said the information will be disseminated to all the overseas diplomatic missions and the Diaspora and be available on the tourism website, as a result of a meeting President Bharrat Jagdeo had with local promoters and entertainers.

Prashad said the events are expected to attract domestic tourists and those from abroad and tourism arrivals here continue to show a positive trend despite the global economic downturn and decline in the Caribbean industry, as he reported last week.

He pointed out that, in North America, most people are visiting other States because of the recession and the economic meltdown.

Prashad said Guyana offers a unique tourist product with its eco-tourism, nature and adventure tourism and its birding tourism has been gaining momentum with all the familiarisation (FAM) trips and the resorts in the Iwokrama area are booked until June next year.