Government has partnered with the private sector to enhance the city’s appearance for the upcoming Caribbean Tourism Organisation’s 13th Sustainable Tourism Development Conference set for later this month.
Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce (ag) Irfaan Ali, at a meeting with representatives of several private sector bodies at the Tourism ministry on Monday said this endeavour will see the route leading from the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, Timehri to the Guyana International Conference Centre, Liliendaal being spruced up for the April 15 to 18 conference.
According to a Government Information Agency (GINA) press release, the conference will provide an opportunity for Guyana to showcase and sell its tourism products. “We want to ensure that whatever we do will be sustained…the city of Georgetown has always been a great importance for the business community, and on many occasions the city has been a source of embarrassment for the business community, residents and the Government,” Ali said. In this regard, he said government and the private sector on many occasions undertook enhancement works to create a more pleasing environment. However, these initiatives were not sustained and as such the ministry, through the Central Housing and Planning Authority has drafted a plan to aid the effort.
“The plan includes a map of the city trail, comprising historical sites and streets where tourists normally traverse…so our vision is to develop a permanent collaboration with the private sector community and the Government in having the trails in the map always in an accessible and pleasant appearance,” Ali said.
In his address, Minister within the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development Norman Whittaker said his ministry has been ramping-up its activities from Timehri to the conference centre including patching roads and cleaning road corridors. He also further committed his ministry’s support to the exercise. “Hopefully new attitudes and admiration for an enhanced environment will make us want to sustain the effort and thus make the city and its immediate environs more pleasant and attractive,” he said.
GINA noted that Minister of Public Works Robeson Benn, Chairman of the PSC Ramesh Dookhoo and President of the GMSA Clinton Williams along with representatives of the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce, Guyana Tourism Authority, Tourism and Hospitality Association of Guyana, Scrap Metal Association and representatives from the Mayor and City Council also attended the meeting.
