Tourism service providers course at packaging workshop
THE Ministry of Tourism, Industry and Commerce and Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA) hosted an interactive packaging and distribution workshop yesterday, at Regency Suites hotel, in Hadfield Street, Stabroek, Georgetown.
It was in an effort to encourage tourism service providers to offer packaged events locally and internationally and was facilitated by President of Blue Legends Event Planners, of New Jersey, in the United States (U.S.), Ms. Rita Tyndall.
The event was one of the ministry’s planned activities for Tourism Awareness Month and the primary aim was to highlight the benefits of packaging, distribution and partnering to industry stakeholders.
Addressing the participants, on behalf of Minister with the Tourism portfolio, Mr. Maniram Prashad, GTA Director, Mr. Indranauth Haralsingh told them the programme will reveal the essentials of packaging and ensure their businesses become export ready.
He said the Tourism Ministry remains committed to promoting packaging as it recognises the vital importance of that component to a tourist destination and product.
“Successful destinations use packaging as the cornerstone of their marketing strategy and this area needs to be boosted and expanded in Guyana,” Haralsingh acknowledged.
He added: “For this reason, we facilitate the stakeholders at key travel and trade shows.”

NUMEROUS OPPORTUNITIES
Haralsingh said numerous opportunities abound for tourism packaging in Guyana and expressed the need for more events such as rodeos, regattas, motor racing, safaris, horse racing, pageants, fashion shows, cricket matches, festivals, Mashramani and entertainment concerts.
He suggested that wildlife, indigenous and cultural activities could be packaged along with other natural and eco-attractions.
Haralsingh maintained that successful packaging is multi- faceted and includes components like transportation, accommodation, attractions, activities, meals and sightseeing and the workshop will facilitate the delivery of those services, by allowing the providers to practise developing packages through partnering channels.
He encouraged the participants to garner the most out of the experience, as it is imperative that, when local products are offered on the marketplace, they will be irresistible, with compelling reasons.
Haralsingh reminded participants that the process is not without challenges but, through collaboration and partnerships, it can be accomplished.
“There is a need for more 21, 14, seven, five days, or even weekday getaway packages to provide opportunity to encourage regional partnerships in the Caribbean and South America, to bring numerous benefits to the suppliers as well as customers,” he posited.
Haralsingh lauded the efforts of Mr. Colin Stephenson, who brought home 150 persons, earlier this month, on a package tour, which included air fare, accommodation, tours and an event.
Assuring those participating that their attendance will, ultimately, contribute to the overall success of their businesses, he said: “I am strongly confident that the presentation by Ms. Rita Tyndall, today, will provide new inputs and better access to acquire knowledge and share experiences, contributing to the establishment of tourism packages and the importance of partnering.”

SUSTAINABLE PACKAGES
Tyndall, herself, said, at the conclusion, they will be able to identify the who, what, where and why of tourism packaging, various forms of it, distribution and partnering and to determine their target market, in order to promote sustainable packages.
In addition, they will be equipped to create a tailor-made tourism package for their respective establishments and devise plans to achieve their distribution goals, all the while bearing in mind the value and importance of partnering.
Among the 50 tourism service providers targeted yesterday were Pegasus Hotel, Tours are Us, Watooka Complex and Crimson Bat Hotel, both in Linden, Wilderness Explorers, Evergreen Tours and Upscale Restaurant.