MINISTER of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, Manniram Prashad recently met several stakeholders in the tourism sector to discuss how they can move forward the country’s budding tourism industry. Meeting with the minister at his South Road office, in Georgetown were Mr. Colin Edwards, Owner of Rock View Lodge and Mr. Sydney Allicock of Surama Village, both places in the North Rupununi, and President of the Tourism and Hospitality Association of Guyana (THAG), Mr. Paul Stephenson.
According to a Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA) press release, while acknowledging the tremendous strides that the tourism industry has been making, they also addressed different areas of cooperation and some challenges facing the  industry and committed to continue working to foster their relationship and propel the industry forward.
Prashad noted that Guyana is being recognised now as a tourist destination and that many things have been happening in this promising sector, pointing to the Surama Eco-Lodge and Village copping this year’s ‘Caribbean Excellence in Sustainable Tourism Award’, jointly with Harrison’s Cave in Barbados, a prestigious award by the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO)-TravelMole and Guyana hosting the 13th Annual Sustainable Tourism Conference (STC-13) next April, the release added.
During the meeting, he underscored the importance of the partnership between the private sector and the Government and encouraged the private sector to take the lead and come up with initiatives to maximize on the opportunities, as the Government continues to strive towards providing the enabling environment.
He noted too that ‘Destination Guyana’ continues to be highlighted and recognised internationally, even more recently being featured in popular travel writer Russell Malkin’s new book ‘101 Amazing Adventures of the World’, and is becoming more of an ideal filming and documentary destination.
The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) 10-part series retracing the footsteps of Sir Walter Raleigh in search of the fabled City of Gold – El Dorado, is expected to be aired in October while ‘Destination Guyana” will receive yet another major international boost being featured in the series ‘Alone in the Wild’.
Minister Prashad said that everyone should recognize the importance of tourism, embrace the tourism drive, and take pride in our tourism product, as it is indeed the industry of the future with great potential for our country.

Both Edwards and Allicock acknowledged the progress being made in the tourism sector and committed themselves to working in partnership to develop the sector and assured that they are constantly trying to improve the quality of their work in the Rupununi.
While pointing out some concerns such as  accessibility, Edwards said that he is  impressed with the way the Government has handled the flood situation due to heavy rainfall in Region 9.
Allicock highlighted that Surama is even more recognised now with the sustainable tourism award received and as more interest is being generated about the community and its tourism offering, they have to “see how we can continue to grow and build on our strength.”