MANAGEMENT of the REDjet airline has announced the launching of a US$4.99 airfare for passengers coming into Guyana for the holiday season.
The airline has taken this step in a move to build partnership with the Guyana Tourism Authority and Guyana’s tourism sector as a whole. Acting Tourism Minister, Irfaan Ali, during a media briefing yesterday, reiterated that tourism is the centrepiece of Guyana’s growth and development. Accordingly, he lauded REDjet’s decision to bring such affordable rates to the table. Ali said this not only gives Guyanese living across borders opportunity to come home at affordable prices, but will also give them opportunity to come and be a part of the holiday celebrations in Guyana, whenever they so desire.
According to the minister, there will not only be an increase in the amount of persons coming into Guyana, but this development will also pave the way for the garnering of much needed revenue.
“We believe that tourism is the next big thing here in Guyana, and it is indeed going to be the centrepiece of our growth and development. The news of the new Marriott Hotel and all the new developments, and the infrastructure of the tourism sector definitely add to the value of the product that we offer out there.”
Minster Ali said there are a number of other initiatives that are also planned for the first quarter of the year, and those will see a large influx of people coming into Guyana. Therefore, the various packages that are being offered by REDjet are not only seen as affordable, but timely as well.
Overseas-based Guyanese will this year be given the option of coming home to enjoy Mashramani and Easter Guyanese style.
“This year, like I said, we would be launching our campaign of rediscovering home. Not only do we have the CTO Conference in April, we must not forget that we have our Easter celebrations; and, right now, we have Mashramani celebrations, and right now the influx of people coming to Guyana in tremendous.”
The minister said the Holi package launched last year is progressing perfectly and is quite encouraging, thus it was seen fit to engage the airline more in expanding Guyana’s tourism to take its rightful share of the Caribbean tourism market.
“It’s really encouraging! The Holi package is now picking up, and it is in this light that we saw it fit to engage REDjet in expanding out market to take its rightful share in the Caribbean. Most of our visitors will be from North America during the holidays; and (as a) matter of fact, if you try getting a flight out of Canada now, you will find some amount of difficulty.”
Ali noted that the Tourism Ministry is partnering with REDjet with the expectation that REDjet will feature more of the Guyana tourism product in advertisements being done in more Caribbean countries, so that Guyanese living in those countries will come home to experience the local tourism offering.
“That is why, for Easter, we are going to offer the rich culture of Easter. We have the (GMR&SC) races around the same time; we have the # 63 Beach activities; we have the islands; we have the seawalls; we have (Rupununi) Rodeo and Regatta all around the same time; so we have an attractive package.

“However, there’s a huge market in Trinidad, Barbados and Antigua that we have to advertise in, and a number of other activities that we (have) planned (for) this year.”
The minister disclosed that, come August, an entire week packed with activities will be set aside as part of the “Rediscovering Home” project being undertaken with the aim of encouraging Guyanese to come home.
“We are hoping that, with the assistance of REDjet, we could put more advertising in these (Caribbean) markets so as to bring an increased amount of people in Guyana around this time. Also, we have our hotels and other business places that will benefit from this.

“In August, we want to set aside an entire week for the “Rediscover Home Week”, (wherein) we would have a number of activities planned, and you will have a lot of activities surrounding that week. And we will be able to attract a lot of our people, brothers and sisters living in that part of the world, to come home during that week to rediscover the rich culture and heritage in Guyana. And our Easter in Guyana is far different form Easter in the Caribbean or anywhere else.”
Meanwhile the minister dispelled rumours that REDjet’s would soon be ending operations in Guyana. Minister Ali said he has been given assurance to the contrary by the company’s Chief Executive Officer, Eon Burn.
“There are some rumours about REDjet, and Eon explained to me that the vision they have is definitely long into the future, and it’s a vision that will see the growth and development of REDjet here in Guyana.”
Burns, during his remarks, said REDjet was pleased to be leaders in offering such affordable rates, because those rates are giving persons the opportunity to travel, some for the first time ever, and some to see family members as much as they desire.
“Right now, REDjet’s vision is to put (up for sale) more that 200,000 seats this year. Right now, during peak period, we had about 3,000 seats, and off-peak we had about 500 seats, which indeed is tremendous for the tourism sector.”
Burns said that, already, the airline has generated over 200,000 seats. “We will continue to develop more and more seats, and the plan is to bring more people back to Guyana and (build) your tourism market.”
He said REDjet’s mission is to reunite friends and family members. That’s what low-fare airlines are traditionally built on, and it’s about people getting the opportunity to travel.
“Redget is doing three routes. And while I’m not trying to put (anybody) down, there’s no other airline that is doing this. Guyanese Government has been very supportive…”

Burns pointed out that since REDjet started operating in Guyana, massive growth in the area of travel has occurred, and the airline has brought more competition to the market.
“There been an entire growth in that (competition), and so, going forward this year, we are very keen to partner with the (Guyana) Tourism Authority. We will be launching some vacation (packages) and services during the year, and I believe that we are going to be very aligned and working closely with Guyana in doing that.”
Burns highlighted that since REDjet is focused on bringing people into the country, and the job of the GTA is somewhat similar, this partnership will be an excellent one for the further development of the sector.
“Our job is to bring people into the country, and the (Guyana) Tourism Authority is expected to bring people… We stimulate the man to travel, and this actually benefits tourism directly.”
Burns said that even bars and restaurants are going to be part of those entities to benefit from the influx of travellers, and this will make for sustainability in the business market.
For 2012, there has been a recorded 16.8 percent increase in arrivals into Guyana, and the GTA says it is looking at increasing partnership with REDjet to further enhance this figure.