THE Guyana Sugar Corporation Inc. (GuySuCo) and the Department of Tourism are partnering to develop ‘Heritage Tourism’ as a new business stream – a move which forms part of the corporation’s new strategic direction.
In a statement on Tuesday, GuySuCo’s Corporate Communications Manager, Audreyanna Thomas explained that while key components of the new strategic plan focuses on value-added products such as plantation, white sugar, cogeneration and improving the corporation’s overall capability and efficiencies, it has recognised that it is important that the preservation of the invaluable sugar history be factored into the transition programme.
The corporation’s new ‘Sustainable Business Model’ focusses on meeting the triple bottomline — attention on making a profit, conforming to environmental obligations and providing social benefits.
As such, the partnership will ensure that Heritage (Sugar) Tourism becomes integrated into the tourism industry in a structured and well-coordinated way.
Thomas noted that on September 24, 2018, GuySuCo and the Department of Tourism had its first meeting, during which the partnership was discussed in detail. This new business line for the corporation will be organised around education, as well as relaxation for students, groups, visitors and tourists.
“The Department of Tourism will support GuySuCo in the development of a ‘Heritage Tourism’ strategy in line with the national tourism policy; assist in defining the strategic direction for tourism relative to sugar; assist in the designing of project proposals for funding for the development and creation of heritage and other sites in the sugar industry, including a ‘Sugar Museum’; determine market opportunities (current and future); establish an ‘Annual Estate Week’ for 2019; training in tourism, heritage tourism and other relevant areas,” Thomas further explained.
GuySuCo has also committed to building on its engagements with the National Trust of Guyana, the national archives and other relevant agencies to ensure that the sugar heritage is sufficiently captured, secured and documented as the transition process continues
