– under the theme ‘Community Based Tourism: Preserving the Unique Character and Culture of Communities’
Message by the Honourable Manniram Prashad,
Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce
‘The Ministry of Tourism, Industry and Commerce and the Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA) will be celebrating its 16th year of observing Tourism Awareness Month, and has planned a number of educational and entertaining activities to sensitise Guyanese on the importance and significance of this growing tourism industry. This is a significant milestone in our quest to promote tourism in Guyana, and it demonstrates our commitment to further expand and propel this industry of the future.

Tourism creates employment, brings in foreign currency, generates revenue, encourages and attracts investments, fosters infrastructural developments, helps to improve livelihoods and the standard of living while providing opportunities for relaxation, exploration, leisure and enjoyment.

Our theme this year is ‘Community Based Tourism: Preserving the Unique Character and Culture of Communities’. Community-based tourism is a new growing niche market and several communities, especially in the hinterland with their low carbon lifestyle, are taking advantage of this.

Many of these communities are well poised and positioned to offer tourists unique experiences. This sustainable tourism not only creates employment for persons in the communities generating income but at the same time, contribute towards protecting and preserving our natural and rich environment.

Hence, in keeping with the theme of ‘Community Based Tourism (CBT) – Preserving the Unique Character and Culture of Communities’, we have decided to launch Tourism Awareness Month simultaneously within two indigenous communities – at the Rockstone Fish Festival in Region Ten and at the second annual Regatta in Orealla, Berbice.  Both communities are ideal examples of emerging community based tourism models.

The Private Sector continues to play a key role in moving this industry forward, and I want to take this opportunity to thank all the players and those pioneers, for their confidence and commitment towards making Guyana a destination of choice.

As Guyana begins to unfold its true tourism potential, stakeholders in the tourism sector must understand the diversity of our unique tourism product, and strive towards ensuring visitors have an unforgettable experience, and importantly, our tourism and hospitality sector must invest in training and capacity building to ensure a quality tourism product. 
Tourism is certainly on the move and we have made significant strides over the years, and ‘Guyana – the Amazon Adventure’ is now a more popular and known destination, as a result of excellent and effective marketing, promotions and international coverage.

Guyana has been in the spotlight for its leading role in the fight against climate change through its ambitious Low Carbon Development Strategy, with His Excellency President Bharrat Jagdeo receiving the United Nations Environment Programme “Champion of the Earth’ award.

In today’s world, there is a growing gravitation towards the nature/adventure/eco-type tourism, hence, we are well-positioned to take advantage of this with our irresistible combination of fascinating and breathtaking natural beauty – pristine Amazonian rainforests, immense waterfalls including the world famous Kaieteur Falls, vast open spaces, savannahs, mountains, rivers, amazing wildlife, spectacular birdlife, and bountiful flora and fauna.

Last September arrivals increased  by seven per cent over last year’s, making it another record breaking month with the highest figures since 1995 –  an overall increase of 8.5 per cent, for the year to date. 

Despite the global challenges, 2009 was a successful year for tourism in Guyana seeing a record-breaking year for arrivals with a nine per cent increase over 2008.

Apart from hosting several familiarisation (FAM) trips, which are market driven and about the most effective for marketing and promoting Guyana, we maintain attendance at key trade shows, such as the International Travel Bourst (ITB) in Berlin, British Bird Watching Fair, and will be going to the World Travel Market from November 8 to 11 in Excel, London.

Guyana attended the Suriname Tourism Fair over the weekend, and for the first time, Guyana took part in the Vakantiebeurs Trade Show in Holland last January, and is currently at the Shanghai World Expo in China – which are emerging markets that it is certainly well-positioned to penetrate.

Today, Guyana has increased its distribution network with close to 100 international companies proactively selling the destination.

Guyana has been featured and highlighted in various popular international publications like the Daily Telegraph, Americas Magazine, Wanderlust Magazine, Birdwatch Magazine, Travel Mail, and Lime Magazine.

We have gained tremendous exposure through shows such as the British Broadcasting Corporation’s (BBC) three-part series – ‘The Lost Land of the Jaguar’, popular United States reality television show ‘Reel and Birding Adventures’ and WSEE TV and One Caribbean Weather.

Next January, a BBC team will begin shooting for a ten-part series called ‘Serious Explorers’ retracing the footsteps of Sir Walter Raleigh for the fabled City of Gold El Dorado while Red Bull Media House is producing a documentary on the famous Mount Roraima and has already filmed a piece, and will be back shortly to continue shooting the second round.

Popular British film producer and creative director, Russell Malkin visited Guyana last August, for his new book called ‘101 Amazing Adventures of the World’ slated to be released in March/April 2011.

Well-known British writer Sally Emerson who was recently in Guyana, too, was commissioned by the Sunday Times to pen an article on our destination.
We have witnessed the numerous infrastructural investments with new hotels, eco-lodges, restaurants, etc, and the government has been working to create the enabling environment with the Takutu Bridge, the Berbice Bridge, the upgrading of the Ogle International Airport, all opening new avenues for tourism. 

As part of Tourism Awareness Month 2010, a number of activities will be held including a series of school talks across the country, taxi service training, birding FAM tours, launching of a fortnightly TV programme, launching of an electronic magazine, frontline and customer service training to improve the quality of services delivered by the industry, workshops on Packaging & Events Management, participation at the World Travel Market and our annual Tourism Awards ceremony.

My fellow Guyanese, tourism is everybody’s business, and I encourage all of you to be tourism ambassadors, hence, the ministry and GTA are fully committed to promoting staycation (domestic tourism) as well.

I would like to encourage you to be a part of Tourism Awareness Month 2010 and explore our beautiful country!!