Bridging language gap of utmost importance—Argentine delegation –for tourism development
In photo, from left, are Ms Helena Havrylets and another visiting representative from the Argentine Tourism Ministry; Argentina’s Ambassador to Guyana, Mr Luis Martino; Tourism Minister Mrs Catherine Hughes; and Head of the Guyana Tourism Authority, Mr Indranauth Haralsingh, yesterday (Delano Williams photo)
In photo, from left, are Ms Helena Havrylets and another visiting representative from the Argentine Tourism Ministry; Argentina’s Ambassador to Guyana, Mr Luis Martino; Tourism Minister Mrs Catherine Hughes; and Head of the Guyana Tourism Authority, Mr Indranauth Haralsingh, yesterday (Delano Williams photo)

AFTER a week of analysing Guyana’s tourism product, an Argentine delegation has concluded that “bridging the language gap” is of utmost importance to both countries. Addressing a news conference yesterday at Colgrain House, Tourism Minister Mrs Catherine Hughes thanked the delegation for facilitating the ongoing partnership between the two countries and

Tourism Minister Catherine Hughes greets His Excellency Luis Martino, Ambassador of the Argentine Republic
Tourism Minister Catherine Hughes greets His Excellency Luis Martino, Ambassador of the Argentine Republic

noted that she is benefiting from a foundation that was previously laid.
The Tourism Minister explained too that as a country that is now developing in the tourism sector and “feeling our way and finding ourselves,” this cooperation between Guyana and Argentina will provide the country with a “helping hand to lead us through some of the challenges we would encounter.”
Since 2013, she noted that Guyana has been benefiting from a series of joint efforts to boost the sector; she referred specifically to the Spanish courses being offered to the sector and all stakeholders at no cost. She explained that it is vital for the growth of the industry, since the native language for South American countries is Spanish and “if we are to attract tourists, we must be able to communicate with them.”
She mentioned the fact that plans are in place for a Hospitality School and noted that such cooperation will only be beneficial when this entity becomes a reality.
Speaking on the bridging of the language barrier between the two countries His Excellency Luis Martino, Ambassador of the Argentine Republic explained that this idea of bilateral cooperation is a programme that was sought through the Ministry of Finance.
He added that South- South cooperation is an important instrument for international cooperation, explaining too that it provides opportunities for developing countries and countries with economies in transition to achieve their individual and collective goals in economic growth and sustainable development.
South-South cooperation is the exchange of resources, technology and knowledge between developing countries, also known as countries of the Global South.Ambassador Martino noted that over the past 25 years, the Argentine Fund for South-South and Triangular Cooperation has been able to finance the development and implementation of several international technical cooperation and bilateral triangular projects.
He referred to the fact that the pilot programme here in Guyana was intitally started in the tourism sector, where a team of experts came to assess the tourism product and now again in 2015, “our delegation is doing a practical assessment of the tourism product so as to enhance our cooperation.”
“Education and training have always been very important in the development of any country,” the ambassador noted, “We need to bridge the gap between the two countries so that the job demand within the professional tourism sector is realised.”
Helena Havrylets, a representative of the Argentine Tourism Ministry, disclosed that her team is here on a one- week visit. “ We have visited some of the protected areas in Guyana,” she revealed, noting that her general consensus is that with further development, Guyana stands to benefit tremendously from tourism.
Havrylets stated that the delegation is here to gather practical results and will able to have a proposal available to Guyana for the future of the sector. She noted that one of the main barriers is the language gap between the two countries. “We currently offer Spanish classes to tourism stakeholders at no fee to them to have their staff learn the language. Another class will start on September 3.”
According to Havrylets, with the introduction of COPA Airlines to Guyana, visitors from South America have moved from a mere 3% to 14% per year from these countries. Therefore, to be able to deliver quality service to tourists, “we need to bridge this language gap.”

 

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