THE Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA) in collaboration with the Wakenaam Nite Committee on Friday launched its annual Wakenaam Nite, which is slated to be held on August 25. As focus continues to be placed on promoting the development of tourism, the event will also seek to expand and create signature projects and activities for the island.
Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce (acting), Irfaan Ali, during his remarks stated that the event is one that will open new opportunities, new economic frontiers for the Wakenaam residents.
“We are seeking to collaborate with the committee to advance small business development, to create economic opportunities, to give incentives to the expansion; to the economic prospects for Wakenaam,” Ali said.
While the event is mainly tourism based, GTA is looking at utilising the event as a platform to launch micro-enterprise small business projects on the island.
Minister Ali stated that special emphasis will be placed on women and vulnerable groups in the community to create a framework which can expand the many small cottage industries that exist into medium sized businesses in order to target larger markets.
The minister called on the Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry Ltd (GBTI) through the Women of Worth (WoW) initiative to consider getting onboard to utilise the event as a platform through which they can help the women, especially the single parents to establish small businesses.
Minister Ali also emphasised that the event will also be a weekend of fun filled activities, and a number of packages will be available on GTA website for persons who are interested.
“This will create a river – based tourism; here will be river exploration by night, dancing in the sand, camping, fishing, hunting, campfire and cook out competition among others which will be a spinoff from the Wakenaam Nite,” he said .
There will also be a reflection of Wakenaam in concert, which will showcase Guyanese talent and bring in revenues to cover some of the expenses of the event.