THE Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA), over the past year, provided active support for almost all local events and continued to promote the ‘Rediscover Home’ campaign, which encourages overseas-based Guyanese to return, explore and enjoy Guyana.Additionally, there has been closer collaboration with the Tourism and Hospitality Association of Guyana (THAG) and several private sector companies and tour operators, while we emphasised the need for more packaging within the industry, GTA Director Indranath Haralsingh said.
According to him: “Over the past twelve months, the Authority intensified efforts to raise awareness of market demand, tourism trends and tourism product development opportunities for Guyana’s tourism businesses and attractions, in keeping with its mandate.
“We also attended and facilitated private sector participation in several key trade shows and contributed towards the development of new tourism products and experiences that are in demand, relevant, and suitable for Guyana’s domestic and international tourists.
“In recognition of the importance of high standards within the growing industry, the GTA also partnered with several agencies to provide technical training to persons within the industry and the staff of the Product Development Department.
“In the coming year, increased focus will also be placed on continuing the enhancement of standards within the industry, focusing on tourism products and services; multi-destination itinerary planning, event management, eco/sustainable principles and guidelines as well as a grading scheme will be developed for the industry.
“As a result of increased marketing and promotion, Destination Guyana is now a much talked about location, with several international publications and filming companies recognising the potential of the sector and paying homage to the uniqueness of the tourism product.

Worldwide recognition
“With this worldwide recognition, the improvement in infrastructure that supports growth of the industry and the increasing investments in the sector, it is anticipated that our visitor arrivals in 2014 will increase by as much as 15 percent.
“In this regard, efforts must be made to prepare local human resources to take on the important function within the hospitality industry and guard against tourists’ first experience here being undesirable, hence it becomes equally important to recognise all the benefits the establishment of the Hospitality Institute will bring.
“We also expect our air capacity to increase and several major carriers have expressed their intention to begin plying the Georgetown route and this will accommodate the influx of visitors to the destination.
“The modernisation and growth of the Tourism Industry is clearly underway and I urge all private sector players to focus on strategic marketing of their products and to recognise the benefits of packaging, which will cement our position on the international front and accelerate our efforts to promote Guyana as the premier destination of choice.
“I would like to take the opportunity to thank the hardworking team at the Guyana Tourism Authority and all Private Sector Stakeholders for their commitment and passion towards tourism development in Guyana.
“Happy New Year!” his message ended.