— Tourism Minister maintains
MINISTER of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, Mr. Manniram Prashad, is maintaining that Guyana is undoubtedly a “huge tourist destination”.
He yesterday noted that of the 36 Caribbean Tourism Organisation (CTO) countries involved in a survey that measured performance in the tourism sector during 2009 over 2008, Guyana was number one. “Only four countries did better in 2009 than in 2008 and Guyana was number one among them. Guyana is the leading country in the Caribbean, in the CTO group, which is showing development,” he said.
In an invited comment, he told the Guyana Chronicle that the country’s attraction as a tourist destination is also seen clearly in the fact that current flights to the country are full and the demand continues.
“Caribbean Airlines has four flights daily. Delta has five and we asked for a sixth. By the time the sixth flight came in they still had to add another. Now Delta has seven daily flights to Guyana and they are all filled,” he said.
The minister said the demand is there and added that anyone who does not live in the country and visits is considered a tourist.
“People, including the Diaspora, have many choices. They come to Guyana now because Guyana is a tourist destination. The infrastructure is good, the hotels are improving, the eco resorts are increasing and facilities are better,” he said.
Prashad pointed out that the popular Number 63 Beach has developed, three new resorts have popped up in the Corentyne and three hotels are being set up at Lethem, among others.
The minister maintained that more and more tourists are visiting Guyana.
He added that even the number of persons coming back to visit relatives in Guyana is increasing.
Prashad said Guyana has seen significant development and this encourages those in the Diaspora to return.
“Maybe, they never came because of the facilities here, but now you have better facilities…people are not only coming back to visit, but some are even coming back to live,” he said.
Prashad also commented on the need for more hotels in Guyana, which he said will respond to the demand that the industry is seeing.
The minister said, “There is a need for hotels in Guyana. We need more resorts in the interior where we have our birding programmes and where we have eco tourists coming into Guyana.”
Prashad said that in Georgetown there is a need for at least two or three additional hotels.
The minister said: “We have to cater for the future and the demand we are creating…if we have the rooms available and we create the demand people will come.”
He said prior to the hosting of World Cup Cricket there was much negativity surrounding the construction of what is now the Princess Hotel.
“Now the Princess is filled…not only do we need the Marriot Hotel, but at least two more hotels like it,” Prashad said.
Chief Executive Officer of Pegasus Hotel, Mr. Robert Badal, was quoted Thursday in the media as saying that Guyana is not a tourist destination.