GOVERNMENT is considering the expeditious introduction of an enhanced incentive package for Guyana and its tourism product in order to encourage more entries into the entertainment industry.Secretary to the Cabinet, Dr Roger Luncheon made the disclosure yesterday during his usual post-Cabinet news conference at the Office of the President in Georgetown.

Luncheon, who is also Head of the Presidential Secretariat (HPS), was speaking in the context of the recent concert headlined by nine-time Grammy award winner John Legend and Reggae Icon Beres Hammond at the Guyana National Stadium which attracted over 15,000 patrons.

The patrons, according to Luncheon, were reported “to have been enthralled” by the entertainers.

“Cabinet readily grasped the significance of the success of that promotion, specifically regarding the Guyana tourism product. The effect was enormous and it was a logical development of the government’s aggressive policy on tourism development in Guyana,” the HPS remarked.

“I anticipate that the modest incentive package that currently exists now that we see what benefits can accrue from the tourism development in Guyana, that that investment package, according to the call that was made at Cabinet, being expeditiously upgraded and specific elements directed at promoting the orderly development of tourism…”

The focus would be on removing the bottlenecks and obstacles that currently exist with regard to tourism development in Guyana.

“And if we have to wait until the budget measures provide an opportunity for that to be done, then so shall it be,” Luncheon continued.

He also expressed confidence that acting Tourism Minister, Irfaan Ali would work tirelessly to have the incentive programme put before Cabinet and brought into play to enhance tourism development and its contribution to the national economy.

***PULL QUOTE: ‘Cabinet readily grasped the significance of the success of that (John Legend/Beres Hammond) promotion, specifically regarding the Guyana tourism product. The effect was enormous and it was a logical development of the government’s aggressive policy on tourism development in Guyana’ – Dr. Luncheon
Written By Telesha Ramnarine