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December 5 2019

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Tourism generates over $62B per year

 

Director of the Guyana Tourism Authority Brian Mullis says tourism generates over $62 billion per year in Guyana and the Authority has seen an increase in September of this year.

At a news conference Thursday, Mullis said there needs to be more collaborative efforts at the regional and national level of tourism.

“One of the reasons that we focus predominantly on tourism are the economic benefits and what we learned this summer in collaboration with the Bureau of Statistics is that based on the average expenditure per visitor that tourism generates over GY$62 billion per annum and we are seeing an 8.2 increase through September and that number is just going to go up,” Mullis said.

He said the key to unlocking the tourism potential in Guyana is more collaboration with communities and businesses.

He noted that Guyana was recognized and ranked as the number 10 country or tourist destination to visit next year in the Conde Nast Traveller Magazine.

Director of the Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA) Brian Mullis

“It is one of the most high profile, highly read magazines in the world and it influences a lot of people, so the fact that we are listed at number 10 out of the 20 and the best place to visit in 2020, we will see visitation from that alone,” Mullis said.

He said that Guyana is not on the global travel radar because of oil discovery.

“…because Guyana is such an extraordinary travel destination with its wealth of natural and cultural heritage,” Mullis said.

The GTA was also awarded its sixth international award at the recently held International Travel & Tourism Awards during the World Travel Market in London.

Guyana received the silver award for ‘Best in Adventure’ which recognised Guyana’s commitment to producing quality adventure tourism products while upholding best sustainable working practices and named it a Leading Sustainable Adventure Destination.

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Bia, me sista lives in Mineola, Long Island and we visited that mall once. Not impressed. I prefer Yorkdale Shopping Mall right here in Ontario.

I do shop at the Waterloo Outlet Mall in NY. Lots of Ontario plates when you shop there. Excellent prices there.

FM
Last edited by Former Member

Local tourist groups want more support from Gov’t ... So where did the 62B went ?? 


Tourism groups in the various administrative regions of Guyana say they have been unable to promote local tourism because of a lack of funding from the Government.

Tourism groups and committees from Regions 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8 and 10 on Thursday met for the Department of Tourism’s Regional Round-up Forum held at the Roraima Duke Lodge, Kingston, Georgetown.

During this meeting, most of the tourism groups spoke about the many challenges they encountered throughout the year in promoting tourism in their region.

Most of them noted that they were unable to execute many plans due to the lack of funding from the Department of Tourism and by extension the Government of Guyana.

Chairman for the Mabaruma Tourism Working Group in Region One, Lyn Robinson said the group will officially launch in December but they have already begun clearing of three ‘Tiger Caves’ and the Kamwatta Falls to serve as regional tourist destinations.

She noted that funding is needed to execute the works.  

“Due to some circumstances, we weren’t able to actually do activities for Tourism Month,” Robinson said.

 Coming from Region Two, Maria Lord said they are hoping to revive masquerading and planned to host a competition but that has been pushed back to December 18.

“Our main problem was the funds…we didn’t get our funds and we are still waiting,” Lord said.

(L-R) Lyn Robinson, Julian Melville and Maria Lord

It was noted that Regions 1 and 2 are fairly new to tourism and both regions are now identifying tourism ‘hot spots’.

Meanwhile, the Region Eight Tourism Committee representative, Julian Melville said they are seeking to create a certain standard of tourism in the region, but were again unable to promote the planned overland tours to Kaieteur Falls.

“We planned to have tours for residents, the business community, the Regional and Town Council leaders, but due to financial constraints that did not happen, we had planned that for Tourism Awareness month,” Melville said.

Melville suggested that every region should support the major tourism activities of the other regions.

“It would be great when there is a major tourism activity happening in any of the regions that we invite each other to attend to have a firsthand experience of what other regions are doing so we can learn from each other,” she noted.

Chairman of the East Berbice, Corentyne Tourism Committee (Region Six), Travis Isaacs said they are looking to promote the Canje River as a tourist destination with sightings of the national bird, Canje Pheasant and holler monkeys.

Chairman of the Region Six, East Berbice, Corentyne Tourism Committee Travis Isaacs

The committee earlier in the year held a photography competition which included secondary schools to capture must-see spots in the Region. The winning photographs will be placed in public buildings in the region and also in the winning schools.

Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) focused more on education tourism and held debating, logo, art and poetry competitions.

A representative from the tourism group in Region Seven, Magaiva Gonsalves noted that these areas are crucial in tourism.

Region Three (Essequibo Islands -West Demerara) is seeking to develop beaches on Fort Island, Parika and Saxacalli and have even earmarked resorts such as the Aracari Resort and Rose Ann Fun Park and has even committed to developing to Vreed-en-Hoop stelling.

President of the Guyana Tourism Authority, Brian Mullis told the groups that the Authority will provide support in tourism product development, marketing, licensing and training.

Meanwhile, in an effort to push tourism in the various regions, President of the Tourism and Hospitality Association of Guyana Mitra Ramkumar says they are looking to extend Guyana Restaurant week to all the regions for the next season.

FM
Last edited by Former Member
Ray posted:

DO you know that they classify people who come from Queens and Brooklyn to shop at Green acres as tourists to Long Island.

The owners of the mall get a huge tax break for this

Lots of West Indian people shop there especially the Macy's.

Prashad
Last edited by Prashad

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