-in preparation for upcoming World Cup 20/20
Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, Manniram Prashad, has emphasised the need for hotels and guest houses to maintain a high standard to supply and satisfy the demand of visitors who will be coming to Guyana for the International Cricket Council (ICC) 20/20 World Cup Cricket. “We are very concerned with the amount of visitors that will be coming into Guyana and the impression that they get of Guyana and Guyanese as a whole,” Minister Prashad emphasised.
While noting Guyana’s progress in the hospitality sector, Minister Prashad said   there is still room for improvement.
He was at the time speaking with major hotel managers and directors during a meeting convened at his South Road office to discuss final preparations with regard to power supply, security and hospitality for the upcoming ICC 20/20 tournament.
The ICC World Cup 20/20 Cricket is slated to begin on April 30 at the Guyana National Stadium at Providence, with New Zealand taking on Sri Lanka and the West Indies battling Ireland. On May 3, Sri Lanka will challenge Zimbabwe and West Indies will compete against England.
Minister Prashad said that most of the hotels are on par with the Ministry’s hotel standard, and noted that to date there are currently over 2,000 rooms available to accommodate tourists as compared to 300 in 2007.
He stated that hotel management is currently putting measures in place to ensure that standards are maintained and that they provide quality service.
Citing the need for enhanced security, Minister Prashad said that a security committee had since been established by President Bharrat Jagdeo and headed by Prime Minister Samuel Hinds and Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee, to monitor progress and to put measures in place during the tournament.
He said that during the previous hosting of international cricket, Guyanese who did not visit their homeland for 20 to 30 years were impressed with the development, which augurs well for tourism.
This, according to Prashad, was evident in Guyana’s arrival figures which increased by nine percent, making Guyana number one above Jamaica, Cuba and Saba; and according to the CTO report which comprised an independent study by a London-based company.
“This shows that with our niche markets, we have been doing better, coupled with all the efforts and all the work that the key players in the industry have been doing,” he added.
Guyana has been in the spotlight over the years with much attention being paid to its flora and fauna through Fam Tours, bird-watching by foreigners and documentaries done by the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC).
In an effort to ensure that standards and professionalism are maintained, the Ministry will be embarking on free training courses for front desk clerks.
Some of the hotel representatives included Pegasus Hotel General Manager, Robert Badal, who disclosed that a US$8M investment will be made to modernise all the facilities at the hotel which is expected to be completed by year-end.
Director of Grand Coastal Inn, Mokesh Daby; Manager of Regency Suites, Gangaram Basdeo; Director of Cara Lodge and Cara Suites, Paul Stephenson; and General Manager of Princess Hotel, accompanied by the hotel Public Relations Officer Liz Rahaman, were also at the meeting.
The representatives all expressed satisfaction with the support given by Government through the Ministry of Tourism and pledged commitment towards customers satisfaction as it relates to culinary delights and hospitality. (GINA)