TOURISM Awareness Month 2009 has been deemed successful.
The month-long programme, organised by the Ministry of Tourism, Industry and Commerce and Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA), was themed ‘Promoting Sustainable and Quality Tourism in Guyana.

With a number of hospitality workers trained, underscoring the importance of training and capacity building in the industry, the observance culminated with the hosting of the Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organisation (ACTO) fifth Technical Committee Meeting of Tourism Focal Points, which gathered delegates from seven of the eight member States.

Tourism Awareness Month was observed for the 15th time, this year, since the first in Bartica, Region Seven (Cuyuni/Mazaruni).

Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce Mr. Manniram Prashad told the Guyana Chronicle it has been a tremendous success with activities conducted during November creating widespread awareness of tourism development in Guyana.

He said this is an indication of the commitment by the Ministry and GTA to expand and promote tourism as the growing industry of the future.

Prashad said his ministry and GTA realise the importance of training and capacity building and are committed to those goals in the industry.

He reminded that, if Guyana is to be a competitive destination, it would need quality people to deliver quality tourism.

Prashad reiterated that promoting quality and sustainability in tourism is critical for Guyana as a new and promising destination.

That is why a number of quality initiatives, consistent with the theme, were undertaken during the month, with particular focus on training and capacity building, he explained.

Among those trained were tour guides and customer service front desk personnel from Linden and Berbice hotels; airport staff in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), waiters and waitresses of Georgetown hotels and restaurants and taxi drivers.

A code of ethics for the drivers was introduced and an events management workshop also conducted.

BENEFICIARIES
Prashad, reporting that a total of 391 persons were the beneficiaries, said stakeholders should continually strive to improve the service, facilities and attractions because tourism is a people and service oriented business.

He also went on a ministerial outreach to Cow Falls, Corentyne and a two-day trip to Rupununi.

GTA Director, Mr. Indranauth Haralsingh, agreed that the undertakings achieved the overall goals.

He said there were also talks in six schools across Guyana and approximately 1,070 school-children attended the sessions.

Haralsingh said Bishops’, Central High, Cummings Lodge, Skeldon and J.C. Chandisingh High Schools and Port Kaituma Secondary School were visited.

Other activities were birding tours on two Saturdays for hotel guests and University of Guyana (UG) students; the unveiling of a city map in Main Street; enhancement of Kingston Seawall, including repainting of the benches and bandstand and brush-cutting the surroundings; refurbishing of tourism and litter signs and planting tress, for he thanked collaborating partners.

Haralsingh mentioned a memorial service held to mark the 31st anniversary of the Jonestown massacre, at the site of which a plaque was unveiled.

He said GTA participated in the Eight Rupununi Expo on November 28 and 29 and Prashad commissioned the Atta Lodge facilities and visited the Industrial Site in Lethem.

The third annual Tourism Awareness Month awards ceremony saw awardees honoured for their sterling contribution towards the development of tourism locally.

Among other things, Haralsingh said work has commenced to enhance and improve the facilities at Number 63 Beach, Corentyne and a poster competition entailed secondary schools students countrywide to illustrate ways by which they can reduce their carbon footprint.

A duck curry contest attracted some 300 overseas-based Guyanese; the annual COURTS Christmas Tree light-up took place on November 22 and Prashad had a meeting with final year students of tourism, finance and management.

Participants of this year’s Pakaraima Mountain Safari received certificates at a ceremony and the GTA Director acknowledged Private Sector participation in the promotion of domestic tourism, with specials packages to the premier and other tourist destinations.

Those offers were by Rainforest Tours, Roraima Airways, Arrowpoint Resort, Lake Mainstay, Baganara and Iwokrama.