Govt prepared to support a ‘big player’ in tourism sector – Ali

…says Guyana’s tourism potential unmatched

To further expand the country’s tourism potential, President Dr Irfaan Ali said, his Government is ready to support a big player in the sector.
The Head of State made this statement as he highlighted Guyana’s tourism potential during a roundtable discussion attended by several business officials from the UK and the European Union earlier today.
“We need a big player in the market, and I’m telling you the Government is ready to support such a player. We are ready to work on a long-term arrangement in bringing that player into the market,” President Ali is quoted by the Press and Publicity Unit within the Office of the President as saying.
He said, too, that it is imperative that there be a “re-engineering” of the way the industry is seen, and this must be done in a transformational way.
He expressed hope that the discourse would address what is required for Guyana to attain its potential of becoming a major player in the sector.

Country-to-country opportunities
The President acknowledged that sometimes markets are viewed narrowly, and related that he does not believe it is about competition, but rather about countries working together.

“Sometimes, if you look from new lens, markets can be combined to give you a better product; and I think, in the interest of tourism, it is how we combine an existing market with a fresh market that continues to build an existing product.”
This, the President said, is something that the Government is actively considering.
To illustrate, President Ali explained that while Sandals Resorts focuses on exotic resorts in the Caribbean that are primarily based on blue water and white sand, the same services could be offered in Guyana while combining Guyana’s product with that of Barbados to offer a whole new product.
“So, you take six days of Sandals Resort: three in Barbados and three in Guyana, and you get two rich experiences. And that is where the real opportunity is,” he said.
The Head of State also noted that South America is the only continent that has a massive forest like the Amazon, which includes countless different species of flora and fauna. Despite this, he said, the continent does not have a “true nature park”, where people can experience all the different species in the Amazon.
“That is an opportunity that is a low-hanging fruit. It is an opportunity that, if you have a good player coming in, you can push the Government to work with you,” he said.

Building Guyana’s brand
President Ali also underscored that brand positioning is a critical component, which is important in separating the country’s brand from those of other countries, and building a niche market.
He explained that, when he was Minister of Tourism, he examined hiking as a niche product, given the fact that Guyana is one of the best destinations for hiking.
Hikers from all over the world would be attracted to Guyana’s potential, including many hikers in Brazil’s northern cities, some of which are within driving range of the country.
To tap into this market, the President said, the Government is going to develop the Lethem Airport to develop the border town as a hub.
He added that Guyana is also looking to become the number one provider of education in biodiversity and ecological services.
“How do we bring the best professors in the world and let them market Guyana as the premier destination for anyone studying biodiversity and environmental science? How do we create the country as the premier destination, where an institution exists that gives the best quality education in this sphere? Those are things that will help us tremendously,” he said.
The President has encouraged the businessmen to invest now, since, with the country’s development trajectory, the cost for investment would significantly increase in the future.