SCORES of tourism operators were on Wednesday provided with readily available services to advance their operations during a licensing clinic held at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC).

President of Visit Rupununi and proprietor of Karanambu Lodge, Melanie Mc Turk, said the initiative is one that is timely and much needed in the industry.

“I’m effusive… I think it’s a fantastic idea, it’s a wonderful service being offered to the business community, especially for new businesses and smaller micro businesses,” Mc Turk said.

Meanwhile, Charles De Freitas of the Pakaraima Mountain Inn, further suggested that the clinic should be held quarterly to address the concerns of tourism operators in far-flung areas.

De Freitas operates an eco-lodge in the Rupununi Savannahs, Region Nine.

“I think it’s absolutely essential because it’s a maze of confusion regarding the tourism industry and to get legitimate and following the rules,” he related.

The man further explained that while the clinic is much appreciated, he believes that a more hands-on approach is needed to address many of the challenges faced by tourism operators, especially those who own establishments in hinterland communities.

“We need to have some of the agencies coming into the communities and coming on the ground,” De Freitas said.

Tourism and hospitality business owners were able to have their queries and concerns addressed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Maritime Administration Department (MARAD), the Guyana Office for Investment (GO-Invest), Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission (GL&SC), Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA), National Insurance Scheme (NIS), Guyana Fire Service and Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA).

Meanwhile, GTA’s Director Kamrul Baksh, in an invited comment, said the aim of the clinic is to offer operators who have not yet been licensed with an opportunity to get licensed or to clarify any queries they may have.

“Its objective is to bring together under a singular space, all the agencies that are responsible for licensing within the tourism industry,” Baksh said.

He added: “We have quite a bit of a crowd here today and we anticipated over 100 businesses will be here to address all of those licensing matters, like getting your compliances for NIS and GRA, understanding how to get your concessions and so on.”

Baksh is hoping that the GTA will see more businesses being licensed after this clinic.

“We anticipate from this initiative here, it will be very impactful because more and more businesses will be able to become licensed… they will be able to attain licensing with the Guyana Tourism Authority. I think we will have far higher numbers of businesses than we have ever had in the past,” he related.

In addition to those agencies, several insurance companies were present to sell public liability, fire and other insurance packages.

The second clinic will be held in Region Nine before the end of the first quarter of this year, while a third is also expected to be held in Region Seven, Baksh said.