President Donald Ramotar has encouraged potential entrepreneurs to invest in the local tourism sector, saying that it is now opportune to invest in the sector that contributes significantly to Guyana’s development.
A release from the Government Information Agency (GINA) said that the president made these remarks on Wednesday at a tourism stakeholders’ cocktail held at the Palm Court Restaurant on Main Street. Reflecting on the plans for 2014, he said that “it is an exciting time for the industry,” and “tourism has a great future and will contribute in a major way to the economy.”
Ramotar stated that Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh and acting Tourism Minister Irfaan Ali had been tasked with formulating “affordable proposals to help grow the sector at a more rapid pace.”
The president added that tourism was being looked at in a regional framework and that government had been developing infrastructure to attract more overseas visitors. He gave the examples of the Guyana National Stadium and the Guyana International Conference Centre, both of which he said have attracted thousands of people and hosted major international events.
According to GINA, he also listed the Marriott Hotel, saying that once completed and opened, as promised in August, will not only offer five-star accommodation, but also several high quality facilities. He added that the expanded Cheddi Jagan International Airport, Timehri will see Guyana being poised to be a major hub for South America.
Minister Ali, in his remarks, called for closer communication and collaboration among stakeholders in the tourism sector which he said would benefit all eventually. He also expressed his confidence in the sector’s growth for 2014, saying, “2014 should be the year of tourism and it has the capacity to contribute substantially to the economy.”
The minister noted that critical thinking was needed, to move the sector forward.
Some of the plans outlined by Ali were the Guyana Gold Festival, a four-day all inclusive package for high-end tourists; a Tourism Ambassador Programme to be spearheaded by artiste Dave Martins; Drive Guyana, a safari type overland venture taking persons to communities such as Siparuta; a Rum, Rhythm and Food Festival; the expansion of yachting, which will see an international investor committing to build a world class boat yard and docking facility; and a Caribbean Premier League (CPL) all-inclusive tickets and accommodation package.
GINA said that Minister Ali also made a pitch for the changing of marriage laws to facilitate marriage tourism which was a potential market to be tapped, saying, “The 14 days it takes to register a marriage should be changed to two days.” He revealed that in 2013, some nine weddings alone had attracted over 200 overseas guests each.
Other plans included capitalising on the upcoming Football World Cup and Olympics in neighbouring Brazil. Ali also noted that the National Geographic Traveller magazine which had listed Guyana as one of the world’s top 21 must see destinations in 2014, will be filming another series on “River Monsters” (a programme of deadly giant fish) in the next few months.
According to GINA, brief remarks were also made by Copa airlines’ sales manager, Guillermo Gomez who said that his company views Guyana as its top achievement for 2014, and it will contribute substantially to the development of the tourism sector.
Copa airlines, earlier on Wednesday, had announced that it will begin flying twice weekly from Panama to Guyana from July.
Also speaking briefly to welcome Copa to Guyana, were Tourism and Hospitality Association of Guyana President Kit Nascimento, Mahendra Bhoodoo of the Guyana Motor Racing and Sports Club and Harrinand Persaud of King’s Jewellery World and CPL’s representative Peter Russell who also outlined the impact that the series will have locally and regionally.
