“DOMESTIC tourism is equally important as the international visitors we want to attract,” says Tourism Minister Catherine Hughes.During the recent launch of the Music and Arts Festival, Tourism Minister Hughes spoke extensively on the Rupununi brand, and how it stands to benefit Guyana economically. She highlighted specifically the fact that many Guyanese, home or aboard, have never visited these areas.
“This brand is complemented by events such as the Rupununi Rodeo, Rupununi Expo, wildlife festival and the South Rupununi Safari, along with other fantastic attractions.” She explained that these are some of the events that promote the Rupununi and highlight Guyana’s tourism product.
Relating her own experience, the minister related that “I had the opportunity to travel to Shea Rock and it is a breath-taking experience. We hurry and we travel to other parts of the world and we don’t realise that we have that right here.”
Minister Hughes emphasised that “Domestic tourism is equally important as [the] international visitors we want to attract and of course members of our Diaspora.
“One of the things I continue to worry about as the Minister of Tourism is that so many of our Guyanese have not gone to Essequibo or gone to Berbice; and I say to you it [is]literally a speedboat ride away,” Hughes stressed. As she further related that many persons currently living in Guyana have visited other countries but have never set foot in the hinterland.
The minister however explained that it is the aim of her ministry to look into this situation and try their best to provide a solution to this issue of our own people being unable to travel around their country. “One of the things the ministry will focus on is on providing and informing the people of the great opportunities we have and encouraging them to go out and experience our tourism product.”
Minister of Indigenous People’s Affairs, Sydney Allicock, also asserted that his ministry will be working closely with the Ministry of Tourism so as to assist the hinterland communities to realise their true potential, as it relates to community- based tourism which will attract more domestic tourists.
According to Minister Allicock, “The reality is [that] people take things for granted and I am speaking from personal experience. I would look away from myself or the community or environment,” and look for other opportunities elsewhere. He noted that persons are taught through different media that the city is where all opportunities are. “We always believed that everything that came from abroad is the best and that was sort of built into you, because of the teachings we’ve had.”
He noted that we have to encourage “our own” to experience their country, “and they will be impressed at what beauty we have here right under our noses.”