Dear Editor,
I was a little disappointed to learn that going to Kaieteur from Ogle could be equal or more costly than going to Trinidad and Tobago from Guyana. This is somewhat appalling, since I believe in order to boost our tourism potential, the process should begin at home with our locals being given the opportunity to experience our varied products and then sell them as well.
Also surprising were the rates being charged by some hotels and guest houses for nightly stays. In conducting a brief survey of room rates and amenities, I discovered that I would have to pay as much as US$95.00 plus taxes per night for a standard room (with the basics), while at a similar rate I can get a room in a three to four star hotel not far from Guyana. I am wondering if our hoteliers take into consideration that there are soft and hard periods for visitors and they should use some pro-rated standard when attaching rates to rooms.
In many Caribbean countries most hotels offer a two-tier rate. One is designed for US or foreign guests, and another for Caricom nationals. This is quite common across the region. Why can’t we do the same here in Guyana? While we recognize that most properties were established to accommodate the tourist or foreign business person, we should look at offering packages for locals who live out of Georgetown and visa versa. We should remember that in many instances (and I can speak about the shipping of personal effects) it is the local person who makes the referral to their friends or relatives as to whom they should conduct business with, whether it’s sending their shipment, or money transfer.
In the same vein if the opportunity is given for them to stay for a weekend at a hotel paying in Guyana dollars and at an affordable rate, we can easily see an increase in hotel stays by visiting friends and relatives. Obviously these locals will pass on the information to their friends and relatives and they could even become unofficial sales people. Also Editor, why should persons who desire to visit our interior locations and resorts be asked to pay in foreign currency? In conducting my research I was also told that many persons would love to visit Kaieteur and other places in our beautiful country. However, they have to pay in mainly US dollars in many instances. I am not sure if this holds for all internal carriers. If this is so, it is not encouraging for a fledging destination which is seeking the best possible awareness.
I’m sure with good judgment and planning, many of our smaller, and even large hotels will be able to see increased business if they commence thinking of opening their businesses offering special packages to the local market. I know many persons would not mind spending a weekend at a city hotel if the price is right. Again, they will sell the experience to others and we can easily see a boost in local tourism awareness. If we are to seriously sell Guyana as a unique destination, we should and must involve our locals. They could very well be the best means of advertising our various products, both eco and heritage tourism.
Finally, Editor, let’s not forget that while in the process of pushing for increased tourism awareness, we should begin a programme of educating our citizens to start the effort of stop littering our streets.
It may be good for some agency to source a large number of garbage receptacles with a permanent outer section and movable inner section, so that special vehicles will be deployed to remove trash on a regular basis. These receptacles can be placed with the outer section secured to the ground at busy intersections and in highly populated food vending areas. I’m sure with constant educational programmes and signs, persons will get into the habit of holding their trash until they get to a disposal receptacle. It may be a good idea to seek assistance from our Chinese comrades since the quantities we would be seeking can be easily obtained from that country. Let’s place a trash receptacle at every other corner in the city, and have special disposal trucks assigned to remove all trash on a frequent basis. Maybe we can have the cost underwritten by some of our large companies. In no time we’ll become a trash-free city. Remember charity certainly begins at home. Let’s start now.
Yours faithfully,
Bobby Vieira
