AT a press briefing yesterday, president of the Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA), Indranauth Haralsingh, declared that the Ministry of Tourism saw Tourism Awareness Month, held in November, as a major success.

Haralsingh noted that the month was filled with numerous activities, and he sought to make the public aware of what tourism is, what its benefits are, and what challenges are faced in the tourism industry.

He noted that Tourism Awareness Month, launched on October 31, was not just successful, but was also historic because of the achievements which the Ministry of Tourism had attained during that month.

He said that Tourism in Guyana is expanding, and this expansion is contributing to increase in Guyana’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

TOURISM MONTH ACTIVITIES
Haralsingh noted that the numerous activities staged during the month of November boosted the tourism industry in Guyana. Those activities included launching of the new Guyana Tourism 2015 Logo, and school talks across the country to make students aware of tourism.

Those apart, he said that tourism is now implemented into the schools’ curriculum across the Caribbean.

WORLD TRAVEL MARKET
Also during Tourism Month 2014, the Ministry of Tourism participated in one of the world’s premiere tourism events, “The World Travel Market,” which was held in Excel, London. During that event, Guyana got an opportunity to showcase and market some of its major products and services in front of what is called the “key target audience,” Haralsingh explained.

He noted that, while there, Guyana launched its new “Explore Guyana Magazine” and branded some new collateral materials.

COMMONWEALTH FAIR
Guyana also participated in the annual Commonwealth Fair, and had the largest contingent, consisting of four booths which all displayed some of what Guyana has to offer to the world.
Apart from the foreign activities engaged in during the month of November, the Ministry of Tourism engaged in some local activities, which included a free-of-cost bird watching tour conducted at the Botanical Gardens, implemented training programmes in which persons were taught to offer proper service to customers, and other training programmes as well, GTA Director Haralsingh said.

TOURISM AWARDS
Haralsingh noted that the Annual Tourism Awards activity, which sought to honour persons for their continuous contributions to the development of Tourism in Guyana, was also deemed a huge success.

OTHER EVENTS
In the month of November, the Ministry of Tourism also held “Restaurant Week”, which saw 19 fine-dining restaurants lower their prices for lunch and dinner for a week, so that the average man and woman could have enjoyed a nice meal with his/her family and friends.

He noted that the Annual South Pakarima Safari was also held, and the Annual Christmas Tree Light-up was staged to usher in the Christmas Season.

In closing, Haralsingh noted that Guyana is becoming a major tourist destination as the days go by, and he accordingly wished to urge the Guyanese public to continue supporting and contributing to the development of tourism.

(Navendra Seoraj)