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MINISTER of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, Irfaan Ali, has announced plans for developing tourism packages twinning Guyana with Barbados and Suriname so visitors can experience different types of tourism products. Ali told travel agents and media representatives in Toronto that various demographic groups have different travel tastes, with the younger generation still focused on sun, sand and sea while more mature travellers want to rekindle with nature and experience nature tourism.
He explained that developing joint packages will create a win-win situation for both the visitors and the three tourism destinations and disclosed that he has already begun talks with the Barbados Minister of Tourism, Richard Sealy.
According to Ali, Guyana is also looking to capitalise on tourism traffic to Suriname from Europe and has been engaged in aggressive marketing in Suriname, especially with small hotels, which has been paying dividends. Efforts are also under way to develop packages with Brazil and later on with French Guiana and Venezuela.
Ali told participants in the business seminar that Guyana is also positioning itself to become a major hub for travel to South America and this will be facilitated when the new airport, which is an investment of more than US$150 million, is completed in 2015.
As well, he said there are excellent prospects for luring visitors from Africa going to North America via Guyana, which would cut their travel time by three and a half hours.
The minister also reported that the Government is creating the right institutional framework by ensuring the highest safety and security standards in the industry. “Tourists must be able to understand what they can expect from every facility and the difference in service between a two-star and a five-star experience.”
Ali also acknowledged that there is a “disconnect” in terms of available information for travel agents and tour operators in Toronto. He advised that to fill the gap, the Ministry of Tourism is planning to introduce a single-window platform comprising a web-based database that is connected to Guyana’s resorts, hotels, tour operators and local companies, which Canadian travel agents can use. “This will be interactive, so you can mix your own tour and create your own packages.”
He said the use of social media will also be explored as this is clearly a cheap and efficient method of communicating.
Alluding to the growth in the tourism sector, he noted that in 2005 Guyana had 700 hotel rooms compared to over 4,000 rooms today and over the period, there has been private sector investment in the tourism sector of approximately Gy$37B.
Ali said President Donald Ramotar has identified tourism as a major growth sector for Guyana in the next few years and emphasised that government cannot be successful without the private sector.
Updating the audience about discussions with airlines to service the Guyana market, he said although in recent times he has had some harsh words for Caribbean Airlines Ltd. (CAL), it must be recognised that the airline has been a “faithful carrier” over the years.
Ali said he is optimistic that Fly Jamaica will begin operating the Toronto to Georgetown route by the second week of August. The airline plans to start flying from New York to Georgetown at the end of July.
The minister said talks are on-going with several airlines including in Canada and the U.S., with the Panama-based Copa airlines and Air China or another Chinese airline and once arrangements have been concluded, these will be announced.
Ali encouraged the Canadian travel agents to promote and sell Guyana and gave the undertaking that additional Familiarisation (FAM) tours to Guyana will be organised once the airlines, the private sector and the Guyana Tourism Authorities are willing to share the cost.
Vice-President of the Tourism and Hospitality Association of Guyana (THAG), Kit Nascimento, also addressed the Guyana business seminar.
Among the private sector companies represented at the event were the Roraima Group of Companies, Hurakabra River Resort, Aracari Resort, Princess Hotel and Casino, and Fly Jamaica.
A team from the Guyana Tourism Authority and the Ministry of Tourism, Industry and Commerce organised the event in collaboration with the Guyana Consulate in Toronto.
He explained that developing joint packages will create a win-win situation for both the visitors and the three tourism destinations and disclosed that he has already begun talks with the Barbados Minister of Tourism, Richard Sealy.
According to Ali, Guyana is also looking to capitalise on tourism traffic to Suriname from Europe and has been engaged in aggressive marketing in Suriname, especially with small hotels, which has been paying dividends. Efforts are also under way to develop packages with Brazil and later on with French Guiana and Venezuela.
Ali told participants in the business seminar that Guyana is also positioning itself to become a major hub for travel to South America and this will be facilitated when the new airport, which is an investment of more than US$150 million, is completed in 2015.
As well, he said there are excellent prospects for luring visitors from Africa going to North America via Guyana, which would cut their travel time by three and a half hours.
The minister also reported that the Government is creating the right institutional framework by ensuring the highest safety and security standards in the industry. “Tourists must be able to understand what they can expect from every facility and the difference in service between a two-star and a five-star experience.”
Ali also acknowledged that there is a “disconnect” in terms of available information for travel agents and tour operators in Toronto. He advised that to fill the gap, the Ministry of Tourism is planning to introduce a single-window platform comprising a web-based database that is connected to Guyana’s resorts, hotels, tour operators and local companies, which Canadian travel agents can use. “This will be interactive, so you can mix your own tour and create your own packages.”
He said the use of social media will also be explored as this is clearly a cheap and efficient method of communicating.
Alluding to the growth in the tourism sector, he noted that in 2005 Guyana had 700 hotel rooms compared to over 4,000 rooms today and over the period, there has been private sector investment in the tourism sector of approximately Gy$37B.
Ali said President Donald Ramotar has identified tourism as a major growth sector for Guyana in the next few years and emphasised that government cannot be successful without the private sector.
Updating the audience about discussions with airlines to service the Guyana market, he said although in recent times he has had some harsh words for Caribbean Airlines Ltd. (CAL), it must be recognised that the airline has been a “faithful carrier” over the years.
Ali said he is optimistic that Fly Jamaica will begin operating the Toronto to Georgetown route by the second week of August. The airline plans to start flying from New York to Georgetown at the end of July.
The minister said talks are on-going with several airlines including in Canada and the U.S., with the Panama-based Copa airlines and Air China or another Chinese airline and once arrangements have been concluded, these will be announced.
Ali encouraged the Canadian travel agents to promote and sell Guyana and gave the undertaking that additional Familiarisation (FAM) tours to Guyana will be organised once the airlines, the private sector and the Guyana Tourism Authorities are willing to share the cost.
Vice-President of the Tourism and Hospitality Association of Guyana (THAG), Kit Nascimento, also addressed the Guyana business seminar.
Among the private sector companies represented at the event were the Roraima Group of Companies, Hurakabra River Resort, Aracari Resort, Princess Hotel and Casino, and Fly Jamaica.
A team from the Guyana Tourism Authority and the Ministry of Tourism, Industry and Commerce organised the event in collaboration with the Guyana Consulate in Toronto.
