ACTING MINISTER of Tourism, Industry & Commerce, Irfaan Ali, has described the tourism sector as the backbone of the future economic growth and development of Guyana.

At a recent press conference, he disclosed that 2014 has begun very aggressively for the Tourism sector, with two international endorsements for the country. The National Geographic Traveler magazine has listed Guyana among the top 20 places to visit in 2014, while the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) listed Guyana among the top five destinations. Each endorsement, he said, is worth millions of dollars in advertisements.

The minister revealed that many new initiatives have been planned for the sector to create new opportunities. The “Challenge Caribbean” will be launched in collaboration with Kanuku Tours, which will include hiking along the Shamrock Point mountain range in the Kanuku. This will be marketed in Jamaica and Trinidad, to bring regional tourists.

University of the West Indies students will also be targeted for ‘backpack tours’ in collaboration with Essequibo tour operators. Work is ongoing to get at least 200 students to come in for a four-day period, the minister stated.

Speaking on international shows in Guyana, he said they will continue, even as Easter and Rodeo are continuing to be marketed comprehensively in Jamaica and Suriname. Discussions are making headway with Fly Jamaica for a comprehensive tour package to encourage Jamaicans to come to Guyana.

The ‘Gold Festival’ will be launched to draw visitors to Guyana to engage in “panning for gold”. This will involve small gold miners and registered jewellery houses coming together to showcase the El Dorado and encourage regional participants into Guyana. It is expected to be launched during the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) Cricket period in Guyana. Persons will be taken to a mined out area where they would be exposed to activities for the panning of gold.

Four cruise ships are expected, with the first being the ‘Minerva’, which arrived with over 360 passengers. Additionally, the annual Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) meeting is also slated for this year, with more than 200 Caribbean officials expected to arrive.

A Tourism Market is being planned along the Lamaha Canal, where a section can be set aside for local craft, culture and food, and it is expected to attract tourists from cruise ships.

Minister Ali also spoke about the beginning of construction of the 18-hole golf course on the Linden/Soesdyke Highway.

More than 50 visiting yachts arrived in Guyana in 2013, and already over 10 have visited for this year. It is hoped that the yachting rally 2014 would attract more than 50 yachts.

Plans are also underway, through a proposal from an international investor, to build a marina in Guyana. The investor is expected to present his proposal before the end of June 2014.

Minister Ali also welcomed the exciting launch of new investments, including night clubs, restaurants, the golf course, and hotels such as Park View and Marriott. The latter is slated to open its doors by the middle of the year. He also mentioned hotels in Lethem, and another international brand hotel which will be coming to Guyana this year.

He especially commended the Tuma Sàlà, Guyana’s first indigenous cuisine restaurant, and urged local support for it.

He commended the new flight services to Guyana, such as COPA and CONVIASA, which would enable more travellers to visit the country.

Arrivals in Guyana increased to date by 6.3% this year, he observed, and “We will continue our aggressive marketing in the regional markets of Suriname, Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago,” the minister declared.

The Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA) is also to be reworked and reorganised to become more proactive, aggressive and efficient in the delivery of its service.

The Government has designated tourism as a priority sector of the economy. It is contributing approximately seven percent to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), and providing directly 2,000 to 3,000 jobs. With the wealth of world class natural tourism attractions, including vast trails of wilderness, rainforests, river systems, mountains, and a variety of cultural and historic recognition of the country’s abundant natural resources, Guyana’s tourism product continues to grow and attract significant interest from investors and visitors alike.

Over the last 10 years, visitor arrivals have been increasing significantly to Destination Guyana; and in 2013, it was one of three countries in the Caribbean to record a double-digit growth with an 11.7 percent increase, which represents visitors from across the Caribbean region, especially from Suriname, Brazil, and Jamaica.

This is a result of several initiatives undertaken by the Ministry of Tourism, along with the GTA, including familiarisation trips, British Birdwatchers’ Fair in London, and Trade Shows in New York and Canada.

(By Rebecca Ganesh-Ally)