Govt to empower rural communities in order to boost tourism sector

Following the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Guyana’s blossoming tourism sector, the new PPP/C Government has been rolling out measures to rebound the industry and among these plans is the empowerment of rural communities.
This is according to President Irfaan Ali in his message on World Tourism Day 2020 which was observed on September 27, 2020, under the theme “Tourism and Rural Development”.
According to President Ali, this year’s theme is all the more relevant to Guyana as the country has traditionally placed high regard on the celebration of its unique natural and cultural heritage and the preservation of its environment.
This year, he pointed out, the world has grappled with the effects of COVID-19, which has caused significant disruptions in the global economy. In fact, by the end of the first quarter of 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic had brought international travel to an abrupt halt and significantly impacted the tourism industry.
The Head of State noted that for many developed and developing countries, like Guyana, the tourism sector is a major source of employment, Government revenue and foreign exchange earnings.
He went on to say that 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 per cent 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 per cent of those employed in our tourism sector have lost their jobs, and an additional 36 per cent have been furloughed or placed on unpaid leave.
“Notwithstanding, we are a resilient people, and my Government is committed to supporting all stakeholders through a very critical recovery process. 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, we have no doubt that this will allow the sector to rebound with strengthened resolve and greater results,” the President said.
Ali outlined that his Government recognises the important role that it will play in this process. To this end, in keeping with the party’s manifesto promise, he said they have already introduced a series of measures in the emergency 2020 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 stressed.
According to the President, his Administration recognises, like the rest of the world, the unique role that tourism plays in providing opportunities outside of big cities, while at the same time, preserving cultural and natural heritage around the world.
He highlighted 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. Despite the disruption caused by COVID-19, 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,” President Ali asserted.
Already, Tourism Minister Oneidge Waldron has said that Guyana’s tourism sector will undergo massive expansion and growth over the coming years with major investment projects to boost the country’s economy. In fact, she noted that already, the construction of four new international hotels is in the cards. This, she noted, will create job opportunities for Guyanese.
In Budget 2020, it was noted that Government will pursue the completion of the Hospitality Training Institute to strengthen the local workforce 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.