By Navendra Seoraj
AFTER first making an impact in the realm of wedding tourism eight years ago, Wedding Expo 2016 has become what was deemed as a “staple in Guyana’s calendar of events”.With a burst of flair from the different cultures, and persons decked in various wedding attire, the Expo kicked off to an impressive start with an influx of people who were mesmerized by the displays at Roraima Duke Lodge last Friday evening.
Graced by the presence of foreign dignitaries and other distinguished persons, the event saw a number of booths going all out to showcase their various designer clothing, decorations, delicacies, cocktails and other remarkable items.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Chief Executive Officer of Roraima Airways, the creators of Wedding Expo, Captain Gerry Gouveia disclosed that, “Wedding Expo has become a staple in Guyana’s calendar of events, exploding with colour and flair, as we celebrate under the cohesion of all the ethnic groups.”
Starting eight years ago, the event grew larger and larger as the Roraima Duke Lodge extended and created a scope for more exhibits to come on board, he said.
As the number increases, he said that Wedding Expo will continuously contribute towards the development of wedding tourism in Guyana.
Poised to be a destination to host weddings, Guyana is still building its capacity in that area and with the advancement in wedding expo and the participation of members the public and private sectors, it can go a long way.
Moreover, with the Ministry of Telecommunications and Tourism agreeing to change the legislation that bars persons from marrying in Guyana unless they have been here for two weeks, wedding tourism will continue to grow and become a greater success.
Small businesses are especially given a chance to showcase their offerings, primarily those who supply items for weddings and for the building blocks of a married couple.
And with the advent of wedding tourism, Guyana’s small businesses will be given an opportunity to distribute their items and create investment partners locally, as well as regionally and internationally.
While wedding tourism remains something of the future for now, exhibitors expressed their excitement to be part of the Expo, given that it not only gives them an opportunity to market their products, but also a chance to see what new initiatives they can pursue.
This year there were over 50 booths, some of which featured Dailys Cocktails, Central Housing and Planning Authority, Jus Cakes and many other local businesses.
