Minister Prashad optimistic about Europe link through KLM
MINISTER of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, Mr. Manniram Prashad yesterday met with KLM (Royal Dutch Airlines) Country Manager in Suriname, Mr. Raymond Reedijk, to discuss the possibility of developing linkages with the carrier.
About the meeting, at his South Road, Georgetown office, Prashad told the media that KLM makes a direct daily flight from Paramaribo to Amsterdam and Guyana is trying to tap into the European market.
He reminded that this country, for the first time, participated in the annual Vakantiebeurs Trade Fair in Utrecht, The Netherlands, last January, as Destination Guyana seeks to break into new markets.
Prashad said the two explored ways in which they can cooperate and see if KLM could, possibly, use Guyana as a link.
He said, right now, a lot of people, going to Europe and even China and Russia, go through Suriname to Amsterdam and there is an easy connection.
Recalling that the last time anyone from KLM visited Guyana was five years ago, Prashad said: “Obviously, with an increase in tourist arrivals and more and more people coming into Guyana to look at our tourist attractions, a unique brand of adventure and nature tourism, more and more Europeans are coming.”
Reedijk said, having arrived yesterday morning and visited the travel agents, there is a huge potential to further develop the air link to Europe.
“We see the number of passengers growing, so it is the information that there is a demand to Europe and the moment somebody starts flying, the traffic increases,” he stated.
Reedijk said, basically, this first visit is a fact finding mission to see and explore the opportunities.
“That is why I am extremely delighted that the Minister had time to meet us today and start to explore the opportunities together,” he said.
KLM (Koninklijke Luchtvaart Maatschappij) is the national carrier of The Netherlands and is part of Air France-KLM that operates worldwide scheduled passenger and cargo services to more than 90 destinations.
Prashad pointed out that there are some problems with people coming into this country from Europe.
“Because some of them come with British Airways and other airlines and they go to Barbados and Trinidad and then have to link up with the smaller aircraft and, a lot of times, there is complaint about baggage, because the big aircraft bring two or three pieces and then the small aircraft cannot take the rest,” he explained.
Prashad said it would be ideal if it is feasible for KLM to include Destination Guyana in their schedule.
“There are a lot of people who go to Suriname, from Guyana, to join KLM and I think it is a golden opportunity for us to explore the Amsterdam, Georgetown, and Paramaribo link,” he said.
Prashad said KLM has an extremely good record and is known for excellent service and, based on the initial assessment and the discussions, it is very positive that the link will be established.
He said, with a daily service to Paramaribo and Trans Guyana and other airlines flying there, that link is already there with the small planes.
Prashad maintained it is a huge opening for tourists coming into Guyana from Europe and Guyanese getting out.
He said talks are ongoing with other airlines and some investors who have made proposals, among them JetBlue and American Airlines.
According to him, JetBlue is now operating to Barbados and St. Lucia and has expressed interest in Guyana and has been given information on arrivals and their next meeting is to really finalise what they have been talking about over the past couple of months.
Prashad said there is growing interest in providing additional links with new carriers coming into Guyana and the Guyana Government has expressed a desire to probably get back into the airline business, in the interest of its citizens.