President Irfaan Ali yesterday said that around 30% of those employed in the tourism sector have lost their jobs and another 36% had been furloughed or placed on unpaid leave as a result of the fallout from COVID-19.
In a message to mark World Tourism Day yesterday, Ali said: “The tourism sector continues to be one of the hardest-hit by the outbreak of COVID-19. By April 2020, the Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA) reported that the sector lost an estimated 46 percent of its total revenue over a six-month period in contrast to the revenue earned for the same period in 2019. In terms of employment, an estimated 30 percent of those employed in our tourism sector have lost their jobs, and an additional 36 percent had been furloughed or placed on unpaid leave”.
Notwithstanding this, he said that Guyanese are a resilient people and his Government is committed to supporting all stakeholders through a “very critical recovery process”. He said that the Guyana Tourism Authority continues with their marketing efforts to promote nature, adventure and eco-tourism both locally and internationally and with the support of the Private Sector, the government has no doubt that this will allow the sector to rebound with strengthened resolve and better results.
“My Government recognises the important role that we will play in this process, as such, in keeping with our manifesto promise, we have introduced a series of measures in the Emergency Budget, which were crafted to bolster the sector’s recovery process; this includes the reversal of VAT on hinterland travel and special incentives for new hotels and businesses.
“These are by no means an exhaustive list of measures; we will also implement policies to strengthen and grow the workforce in the Tourism sector to cater to the influx of visitors expected as a result of the focused marketing as well as the emergence of the oil and gas sector. This will also help to create more opportunities, which will lead to the economic empowerment of men, women and youth in rural communities”, he said.
He added that over the last two years, Guyana recorded its highest visitor arrivals, during which time the destination also won six International Awards (four of which were tied to sustainable tourism).
“We therefore resolve to build on that by supporting from a policy level, the continued promotion of our community–led and owned experiences”, the President said.
Despite the disruption caused by COVID-19, he said that it is important for the sector to regroup.
“We, therefore, have an opportunity to transform our approach to the continued development of the sector to ensure a balance between people, nature, and the climate. We are confident that over the next few years, our country will witness a more inclusive, sustainable and resilient development of the Tourism Sector”, he said.
