TWO operators of the Suriname Travel Service (STS) paid a courtesy call on Tourism Minister Catherine Hughes yesterday morning and discussed their agency’s plans to include Destination Guyana in the tour packages they offer to their current markets in Suriname, across the Caribbean, North America, Europe and Asia.Surinamese Destination Management Co-ordinator and Tour Operator Dinesh Ramlal was accompanied by Belizean Hotelier and Travel Consultant Nick Davies and a team of Surinamese media representatives.

The visitors spoke about their plans to forge a multi-destination initiative across the Guianas Shield which includes French Guiana, Suriname and Guyana. They pointed out that today’s tourists are more interested in experiencing diverse sights, cultures and adventures on one trip, and they usually ask for different packages when they return which they generally do.

Tour Operator Ramlall has been including certain Guyanese destinations in his tour packages for more than a year, including Santa Mission and the Kaieteur Falls. Three years ago, he entered into a partnership with Nick Davies who has resided in Belize, Aruba and Bonaire over the last decade. He is a seasoned hotelier and traveller with a passion for tourism.

Mr. Davies discussed with the minister the ideas he has had for some years to package seven destinations in one trip. These include Tobago, Aruba, Bonaire and the three Guianas. These ideas coincide with the current trajectory of the Tourism Ministry which Minister Hughes has been pursuing ever since she took office last May. She has already held initial discussions with her Surinamese counterpart and several government officials in neighbouring French Guiana.

“It just makes sense to triple the Suriname experience,” Mr. Davies said. Minister Hughes added that the cultures in the Guianas Shield are uniquely diverse and have already proven their capacity to generate excitement among tourists. Sold effectively, she said this hemisphere will soon become the choice destination for global tourists. Mr. Davies pointed out that the Chinese and Japanese outbound tour markets are open.

The parties also discussed the emerging preferences of tourists from Europe, North America and Australia who live in a fast-paced world and are accustomed to high accommodation standards. This is a key factor for attracting them initially and ultimately sustaining their interest.

Earlier yesterday, the STS team also met in the ministry’s Colgrain House boardroom with major stakeholders in the private hospitality and adventure tour industries. The group included the proprietors of Cara Lodge, Iwokrama Nature Reserve, Kanuku Hotel, the new Aruwai Resort on an Essequibo Island, Rainforest and Wilderness Tours, and the Grand Coastal Hotel.

Over the next four days, the visitors will seize every opportunity to hold in-depth discussions with these hospitality service providers on developing business partnerships. They will also go on familiarisation tours to interior destinations including the Hurakabra Resort, the Kaieteur, Orinduik and Marshall Falls, and Santa Mission.