Holiday visitors to Guyana were on Tuesday welcomed at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) with traditional local black cake and rum punch as part of a ‘Meet and Greet Christmas welcome’ programme.
The Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA) and the airport collaborated with the Tourism Ministry in the venture, held as part of its roster of activities for the season, according to the Government Information Agency (GINA).
Over 800 people were feted to the accompaniment of steel pan music and Christmas carols.
GTA Director Indranauth Haralsingh said the CJIA is the only international airport in the Caribbean that offers a festive reception to holiday travellers. “This is how visitors want to feel, very special and welcome and you can see the facial expressions of some persons, how amazed they were to be greeted with such welcome,” he said. Traveller Pearl Fields, a Canada-based Guyanese, said she was, “amazed with the efficient and improved service that [she] received while clearing through immigration.”
Haralsingh said government continues to welcome more airlines to the Guyana route. “Only last week Sky Services Airline connected its flights with CJIA, providing weekly direct flights from Canada to Guyana,” he said. Canada accounts for 21 per cent of arrivals in the country while flights from America are responsible for 54%. GINA said in November the CJIA recorded a 7.5% increase in arrivals and more flight connections from Caribbean Airlines, Delta, Sky Services and LIAT airlines are expected to boost this figure.
According to GINA, CJIA staff members, immigration, security and ground staff were eager to interact with the visitors and practise skills gained from the recently concluded sensitisation workshop the ministry recently hosted. Tourism Minister Manniram Prashad recently announced at the 2009 Guyana Tourism Awards ceremony that focus is begin given to developing four pieces of tourism regulation-evidence of the steps government is taking to develop and sustain the industry.
GINA said representatives of Banks DIH, Guyana Telephone and Telegraph (GT&T), the Edward Beharry Company and members of the St George’s Cathedral Choir were part of the welcoming team that greeted travellers.
