THE draft National Tourism Policy (NTP) which is being perused by the relevant stakeholders, with some already sending in their feedback, will become a public document soon.Director-General of the Ministry of Tourism, Donald Sinclair said that, as soon as the responses are received from all the stakeholders, they will be reviewed and amendments made where necessary.

Sinclair said that, “interestingly, cruise visits and yachting are a part of that National Tourism Policy because we recognise that those are growth areas for us. So as soon as we get the feedback it becomes a public document that we will be using to drive our tourism plans.”

President of the Tourism and Hospitality Association of Guyana (THAG), Shaun McGrath, said that 57 of the association’s members have sent in their feedback on the draft NTP to the Tourism Ministry. The NTP will address legislation and regulations towards advancing Guyana’s tourism which will include concessions, best practices, human resource development, infrastructure, promoting specific niche markets and other areas.

Minister of Public Telecommunication, Catherine Hughes had said that the NTP will emphasise the role of tourism in providing jobs and boosting economic growth throughout Guyana, especially in the hinterland. “So within the tourism policy… we re-define Guyana as ‘Guyana, South America Undiscovered’… and tied into that is the beauty of our rainforest, our savannahs, its adventure tourism, its leisure tourism,” Hughes said. She added that hiking, sports fishing and sports tourism which includes fishing, yachts and rallies are also catered for in the NTP, as well as motor racing entertainment and cultural tourism.

(GINA)