MINISTER of Tourism and Public Telecommunications, The Hon. Cathy Hughes, made a momentous announcement to the media last week, which unfortunately has been overshadowed by other, I presume, more salacious and entertaining events, that is, the Minister has formed a National Tourism Council, which will be the umbrella organisation, so to speak, that coalesces all aspects of tourism in Guyana.As a Guyanese who has been advocating the importance of tourism, as an important contributor to Guyana’s economy, I was elated to see Guyana finally coming to grips with what has to be the focal point to a coming vibrant economy. Guyana’s government started its march into independence with leaders who were averse to the tourism trade, then leaders who were lukewarm and finally, apparently, leaders who have seen the tremendous economic value of it.
Last Carifesta X, in August, 2008, I was in Guyana, when The Bahamas Minister of Tourism boasted that The Bahamas hosts some 800,000 tourists every year. With all due respect, The Bahamas are islands, surrounded by a beautiful ocean and beautiful beaches. That’s it. Except for all of the other manmade trappings which were created for human entertainment purposes. Guyana however, has beaches that need work, as all beaches do, once human traffic has invaded them, but we also have a near pristine Rain Forest, with many natural waterways!
I have espoused this idea as recently as last December on, CW – AS It Is, a live video interview programme run and hosted by my friend, Selwyn Collins, out of Brooklyn, New York (Minister Hughes was on this programme not too long ago, I might add.), that is, Guyana has about one and a half times its population living as expatriates in other countries, principally, the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom. If Guyana develops a Mission Statement, with a five-year objective, to have 200,000 of these expats visiting one week a year and modestly spending US$2,000, that would be some US$400,000,000 being pumped into the Guyanese economy. About four times the 2016 Budget, I believe!
Such a plan would obviously put an end to the destruction of the Rain Forest, and wild life, through mining and logging of those dwindling resources. Such a plan would dramatically reduce unemployment and significantly raise the standard of living for all Guyanese. Such a plan would significantly improve the natural surroundings and quality of life.
“BUT, nothing good come easy.” Under the umbrella of the National Tourism Council, there would have to be a planning commission of qualified, interested parties from Guyana and possibly the diaspora, who are capable of preparing a comprehensive and successful plan.
The best of luck to Minister Cathy Hughes.
You have hit a six into the leg side pavilion. (I’m revisiting my cricket roots.)
Albert R. Cumberbatch, Ph. D.