President Bharrat Jagdeo on Wednesday met with stakeholders in the entertainment, tourism and allied industries to discuss specific areas where new initiatives can be used to market Guyana’s tourism.

According to a Government Information Agency (GINA) press release the president initiated the forum, held at the Guyana International Conference Centre, for entertainers, promoters, hoteliers, resort proprietors, local artists, musicians, representatives of airline agencies, designers and other stakeholders in the tourism and hospitality industries.

The agenda aimed at making the entertainment industry more viable and using it as a marketing tool for Guyana. Jagdeo told the forum to identify four periods during the year to host activities that will keep the public’s interest while at the same time create numerous opportunities for local entertainers and the tourism industry.

The programme also included an open dialogue among the president, Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, Manniram Prashad, Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport Dr Frank Anthony, Advisor to the President on Community Development Odinga Lumumba and representatives from the Tourism and Hospitality Association of Guyana and stakeholders including Charmaine Blackman, Bonny Alves and Kester Dean; Hits and Jams Promotions and Mr. Dynamics and designers Sonia Noel, Trevor Rose and Michelle Cole.

The president said a specific time of the year can be identified for the hosting of a two-week series of activities organized through collaboration. “It doesn’t mean that we will neglect what we do in the rest of the year but this would allow people to plan their vacations, when coming in to Guyana and we can generate some excitement about this period… and we can market it extensively across the diaspora,” he said.

Guyanese in the diaspora were identified as the main stakeholders who support the local tourism industry, but according Jagdeo, there is often little for them to do when they return home. “If they come back the first time, the rediscovery of Guyana keeps them occupied, but if they come for a second visit often there is not enough for them to do because we don’t generate a whole deal of activities. We’re a small country and we don’t have the extended nightlife and other things that larger societies have so how is it that we can together make their experiences one that they would want to come back?” he asked. Despite the sharp decline in the tourism industry in the Caribbean due to the global financial crisis and the most recent threat of the swine flu, most of the thriving tourism countries focus on event-oriented activities.

During the interactive sessions concerns were raised about promoters being denied access to venues and being given limited time to host their activities while others called for improvements in the standards of their events. Resort proprietor Kit Nacimento also posited that travel agents should do more to market Guyana and suggested that a meeting be held with airline representatives to discuss cheaper airfares. He also suggested ideas for the promotion of sport, music and food festivals. Suggestions were also made to improve Mashramani which the president identified among the annual events to promote the new initiative.