– Prashad says increased visitors arrival figures positive trend for tourism
FIGURES of visitor arrivals here continue to show positive trends as ‘Destination Guyana’ gains more recognition, as a tourist attraction, in the international arena.
There was a three percent increase in arrivals for August, this year, over the same period last year and, compared to 2010, for January, a 3 percent rise; 1.4 percent decline in February; 25.3 percent lower in March, 7.1 percent better in April; 13.2 percent up in May and 7.5 percent higher in June, making an overall 0.7 percent rise at the end of July.
Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, Mr. Manniram Prashad, using those statistics in an interview, reiterated that ‘Guyana – the Amazon Adventure’ offers a unique and different kind of tourism, with its ecological, nature and adventure-based tourism and has been attracting more people.
According to him, the continued positive trends show confidence in the destination and points to success in the marketing and promotion by the Tourism Ministry, the Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA) and other industry stakeholders.
He noted, too, that there is a growing gravitation towards the adventure/nature/eco-type tourism and this is a plus for our destination, endowed with diverse and amazing flora and fauna and stunning natural surroundings, boasting more than 80 percent of untouched rainforest.
Prashad referred to the hosting of several familiarisation (FAM) trips and maintaining attendance at key trade shows.
These are all market-driven and are effective for marketing and promoting Guyana, he noted.
He observed, too, that Guyana is becoming an attractive place for filming documentaries, as, to date, that has been done for the French-based production company, ‘Bo Travail’, part of which is a television magazine documentary series called ‘Echappees Belles’.   
Guyana will be also featured in the popular television series titled ‘Alone in the Wild’, later this month and, as well, in the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) ten-part retracing the footsteps of Sir Walter Raleigh, in search of the fabled City of Gold, El Dorado, in October, adding to the country’s growing international exposure.
In addition, Icon Films, commissioned by Animal Planet, was also here in March, making a two-hour documentary. Another company, Travel Channel aired an episode called ‘The Wild Within – Guyana’ as part of its television programme in March/April 2011.
More recently, ‘Destination Guyana’ was screened online in ‘Around the World for Free’.
Minister Prashad reminded that Guyana has been highlighted in various popular international publications and is seeing the benefits of excellent international public relations, being on regional and international television programmes, such as Caribpubic bean Beat; Perceptive Travel Online Magazine (Humble in the Jungle – Exploring Guyana’s Rainforest; ‘Kaieteur – Guyana is the New Amazon’, listed in the United Kingdom (UK) Stylist Magazine; 2011 Hottest Destinations; the Scotsman Travel and CNN’s ‘Adventures of the female Indiana Jones’.

KAIETEUR FALLS

‘Destination Guyana’ is in popular British film producer and creative director Russell Malkin’s new book ‘101 Amazing Adventures of the World’, with majestic Kaieteur Falls prominently on its cover.
Guyana’s tourism received a major boost with the recognition of its unique brand of eco-tourism, he said, with Surama Village Eco-Lodge copping the 2011 Caribbean Excellence in Sustainable Tourism Award, jointly with Harrison’s Cave of Barbados, a prestigious award by the Caribbean Tourism Organisation (CTO), in collaboration with TravelMole.
Prashad announced that Guyana will be the proud host of CTO 13th Annual Sustainable Tourism Conference (STC-13) next April and all that can only augur well for development of the local tourism sector.
There is an increasing number of positive developments taking place in the tourism sector, he acknowledged, pointing to other events staged throughout the year, including Wakenaam Night, Jamzone Summer Break, Lake Mainstay Summer Regatta, Bartica Regatta, Berbice Expo, reunions, cricket, Bikers Fest, duck curry competitions and motor racing, which will all attract even more tourists and persons from the Diaspora.
The Tourism Minister observed that, since REDjet commenced flights from Barbados in May, arrivals recorded for the month of July have risen by 30 per cent.
And, as efforts continue with regard to increasing airlifts into Guyana, Prashad said he is engaged in discussions with other airlines, among them  Jet Blue, Suriname Airways and KLM (Royal Dutch Airlines).