-as several honoured at Annual Tourism Excellence Awards
THE Ministry of Tourism, Industry and Commerce Wednesday evening hosted its Fifth Annual Tourism Excellence Awards Ceremony at the Guyana International Conference Centre, Liliendaal to recognise and reward individuals, communities, organisations and safarians who excelled in their respective areas in promoting tourism in Guyana.
           Delivering his remarks, Minister Manniram Prashad said that tourism has become one of the fastest growing sectors in Guyana, is a source of foreign currency, generates revenue, creates employment, attracts investments and visitors, provides a positive destination image, and drives infrastructural and community development, and at the same time, allows more people to explore and experience Guyana.
           The sector has shown great resilience and durability during the current economic recession; and in order to sustain it, certain fundamentals must be in place.
            Minister Prashad said all stakeholders must have the ability to adapt to change and to be responsive to global trends.
            “Tourism is about positioning yourself in the international marketplace, and about offering an experience that is second to none…we need to benchmark ourselves internationally, so that our products and services will be judged according to international expectations,” the minister said.

          The awards ceremony provides the sector with the opportunity to recognise the persons and industries that have excelled in the various categories, and has contributed to placing Guyana on the map. It also gives all stakeholders in the industry, the inspiration to constantly pursue excellence. 
            The minister called on the service providers to recognise the importance of customers in conducting their business, and constantly strive to improve their services, be responsive to new demographics, needs and demands.
            The minister noted that government is committed to tourism development and is providing a number of initiatives to facilitate its growth.
            These initiatives include investments in health care, information communication technology, education, and boosting infrastructure (Olympic size swimming pool, athletic track, a new airport, resurfaced South Dakota racetrack, deep water harbour etc). These bold steps, coupled with a stable growing economy, are laying a foundation for tourism to expand.
              Given government’s commitment and initiatives, Minister Prashad challenged the industry to seek to modernise, to adapt and embrace new technologies, to be service-oriented and to partner with government to make Guyana realise its true potential.
           Turning to the awardees, the minister said, “These awards must serve as a recognition of excellence in service, quality, business, entrepreneurship, creativity and hospitality; but they should also highlight our status as a promising, alluring and must-visit tourist destination.”
            The ceremony saw 31 persons receiving certificates for their participation in the Pakaraima Mountain Safari, one of the leading adventure trips in Guyana.
            Editor-in-Chief of the Government Information Agency, Shanta Gobardhan was rewarded for ‘extensively promoting the Annual Pakaraima Mountain Safari’.  This is the third year she has been receiving a certificate for raising awareness of the event.

The safari is a collaborative effort among the Tourism Ministry, the Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA), Local Government Ministry, Guyana Oil Company (GUYOIL/CASTROL), Rainforest Tours, Air Services Limited, Geddes Grant, Guyana Telephone and Telegraph (GT&T) Company, Mekdeci, Neil and Massy, and the administrations of Regions 8 and 9. Awards were also handed out to the top 10 persons in the sector for their excellence in tourism development in Guyana.
The 10 categories under which the awards were presented and the recipients are: Tourism Pioneers- Dwayne and Sandy De Freitas from Rupununi Trails; Community-based Tourism- Rewa Village, Region Nine; Long-standing Service Provider- Ruth and Peter Rajmangal from No.58;  Rest Stop Tourism Entrepreneur- Wilfred Jagnarine from Lake Mainstay, Region Two; Improved Access to Regional Markets- REDJET Airlines; Tour Guiding- Ashley Holland (Tour Guide of the Year); Pillar of the Tourism Industry- Eon Craddock, a former British Army Officer; Best Home-style Stay- Herdmanston Lodge; Support for Cruise Tourism-Guyana National Shipping Corporation(GNSC); and Service for Travel and Tourism- Cheddi Jagan International Airport.  This award ceremony is part of the Ministry’s calendar of activities to commemorate Tourism Awareness Month, being observed under the theme, “Achieving service excellence through training.”(GINA)