Guyana’s tourism sector is set for massive enhancement as Government’s 2020 vision allows for the creation of over 1,500 direct new jobs in the sector over the next five years. This is to facilitate an increase of visitor arrivals with an expanded menu of tourism products and services.“It is our intention to double the tourism marketing budget over the next five years, in an effort to scale up our presence in targeted fora and media,” Finance Minister Winston Jordan told the National Assembly as he presented the $221 B 2015 National Budget yesterday.
Emphasis will be placed on the development and enforcement of standards and hospitality training to boost the quality of the sector and experience of the visitors. A project, with funding from the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) will be initiated and an appropriate model of a tourism hospitality school will be executed.
In its efforts to further bridge the coastland-hinterland divide, Government will accelerate efforts to implement the Hinterland Tourism Development Plan and aim to generate vibrant and sustainable livelihoods within communities across the country.
“The cost of internal travel, as well as the cost of airlift to Guyana, will also be reviewed, to improve accessibility among our Regions,” he said.
Minister Jordan, in his presentation, urged the participation of all stakeholders, Government, private sector and civil society, to ensure a visitor experience that results in repeated visits and positive stories here and abroad.
“We can all agree that no one wants to visit a garbage-strewn city. As we put our houses in order, I invite all Guyanese to take pride in their surroundings, since our image and mindset must be to enhance and preserve the beauty of our native land.”
The need for accurate data to inform the marketing strategies and resource allocation to the industry is critical and the Government plans to improve this by adopting the tourism satellite accounting system before 2020.
Since the private sector has lobbied for this, the Minister explained that it is his expectation that the body will be equally enthusiastic in providing the data needed.
Government’s overall objective is creating Guyana as a must-see tourist destination.