-Minister Prashad
THE positive trend continues as Destination Guyana registered a 7.8 per cent increase in arrivals by air last month, in comparison to May 2009, Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, Mr. Manniram Prashad disclosed yesterday.
In an exclusive interview with the Guyana Chronicle, at his South Road, Georgetown office, he said a total of 9,660 visitors arrived in May as compared to 8,960 the same month of 2009.
Prashad also revealed that, to date, 54,650 arrived as against 50,963 for the same period last year and arrivals for the year rose by 7.2 per cent compared with those from January to May 2009.
He said, this year, the figure was 13.9 per cent higher that in January 2009; an 8.5 per cent decline was recorded in February; a 13.6 per cent rise in March and a seven per cent hike in April.
Prashad attributed the achievement to the hosting of the International Cricket Council (ICC) World Twenty20, as teams, officials, media and fans came to watch the preliminary rounds.
He said hotels, restaurants, night clubs etc. were filled and business was exceptional during that time while tour operators were also busy as visitors set out to discover and experience this country’s many attractions.
Prashad said the 37th South American Commission for the Control of Foot and Mouth Disease (COSALFA) conference also contributed, further consolidating the growing MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions) segment and confidence in Guyana as a business destination.
He posited that the increased arrivals were due mainly to key source markets, namely the United States (U.S.) 53 per cent; Caribbean 19 per cent and Canada 17.5 per cent.
Prashad said there were more arrivals from these key markets over 2009.
But he reported that arrivals from Europe continue to decline, through poor air connectivity and the fact that a lot of Europeans have cut back on long haul travel.
In that context, Prashad alluded to the Monday meeting with KLM (Royal Dutch Airlines) Country Manager in Suriname, Mr. Raymond Reedijk, to discuss the possibility of developing European linkages with that carrier.

Confidence

“Increasing arrivals demonstrate visitors’ confidence in Destination Guyana and points to our aggressive and effective marketing strategy as well as returns from the positive international coverage Guyana has been receiving on its leadership on climate change and the travel press,” he stated.
Prashad also noted that Guyanese continue to visit their homeland to experience its tourism products, conduct business and be part of the social and economic developments, which combine to make Guyana attractive.
He reminded that, last year, Destination Guyana boasted nine per cent higher overall total visitor arrivals than the previous year.
Prashad said, having recorded its highest arrivals ever, 141,281, which led the Caribbean Tourism Organisation (CTO) 34-member grouping: “We are optimistic, given this trend, that 2010 will surpass 2009.”
Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA) Director, Mr. Indranauth Haralsingh, in an invited comment, said the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) will, shortly, be sending a team here, to tour and film another documentary, this time featuring the majestic and spectacular Kaieteur Falls and Iwokrama Rainforest, for its ‘Science Series’.
The BBC three part series titled ‘The Lost Land of the Jaguar’ gave Guyana a tremendous boost as well as the documentary that included sport fishing done last year by a U.S. television crew for Birding and Reel Adventures.
According to Haralsingh, tour operators and agents from Suriname will be visiting, sometime, too, while a delegation from Reel Adventure was in the country about a week ago and visited the communities of Rewa and Surama, where they are to return and make a documentary to promote and highlight the country’s potential.
He said that will, certainly, help to push Guyana more into the international arena and raise awareness which augurs well for the destination.
Haralsingh also announced that the Tourism Ministry and GTA are working on makig Guyana more film and documentary friendly.