MINISTER of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, Mr. Manniram Prashad, has reiterated the growing need for more airlift into Guyana as the country continues to attract more and more visitors.
He was speaking to the media Monday, after meeting with KLM (Royal Dutch Airlines) Country Manager in Suriname, Mr. Raymond Reedijk, at his South Road, Georgetown office, to discuss the possibility of developing linkages with that carrier to penetrate the European market.
Prashad said his Ministry is trying to attract more airlines after noting that flights are usually fully booked during the August, Christmas and Easter holiday periods.
Against that background, he said he is very pleased that KLM is showing an interest in coming to this country.
“This can only mean one thing that people are seeing the progress that Guyana has been making. People are reading and they know what is happening,” Prashad posited.
He recalled: “There was a time when nobody wanted to talk to us. Now, almost all the airlines coming into the region are having discussions with us.”
Prashad said Delta Airlines has been doing an excellent job, so far and added: “We are very happy with what has been happening with our discussions in attracting more airlines coming into Guyana.”
He continued: “We feel that this will be very good. There will be competition, service will improve and prices will, ultimately go down and this is what we need, more people to come to Guyana to make it affordable.”
Prashad said, previously, that more emphasis continues to be placed on promoting, developing and marketing the country on the international front.
He announced that direct flights from Georgetown to its western neighbor, Venezuela, will commence upon completion of the Ogle International Airport project, on East Coast Demerara, by year end.
Prashad said, once direct flights are assured, more people will be travelling to and from the Spanish-speaking country and that would augur well for Guyana’s tourism development.
He spoke after Venezuelan Ambassador to Guyana, Mr. Dario Morandy said Venezuela is working along with three companies from Guyana and one from Venezuela towards that objective.
The Guyana/Venezuela flights will add to those already ongoing between Guyana and its eastern neighbour, Suriname.