Guyana is an unspoilt gem that has to be discovered― National Geographic team

A visiting team from National Geographic has described Guyana as one of the nicest, unspoilt countries in the world and a gem that has to be discove

red.
Journalist Marco Barneveld and photographer Rene Kaster were in Guyana on a Familiarisation Tour (FAM Tour), which began on November 7 hosted by the Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA) in observance of Tourism Awareness Month 2016, the Government Information Agency (GINA) reported.

Barneveld said that he has been enjoying Guyana tremendously: “It’s one of the nicest unspoilt countries we have been to, one thing that must be said here (is) that we were seduced by your rum to come here.”
The journalist explained that they were in Alaska and while having a conversation about rum and which rum is better, a Guyanese who was present asked if they ever tried Guyana’s rum; when they did, they were left speechless.  He noted that the rum was not the main reason why they should visit, but “it was definitely the push.”
Barneveld also said that they have seen Georgetown and the interior, and they have also been to Costa Rica, which has many American tourists: “frankly I don’t understand why they are not coming here. It’s a non-spoiled gem that has to be discovered!”
Kaster noted that he was surprised by the beauty of this country and pointed out that he has seen many places, but none “as beautiful as Guyana”. Kaster also pointed to the hospitality of the people in the communities they visited.
He said, “the people are great as well, how they talk to you, how they behave, how they look at you, the humour they use and they are very friendly.”Tourism Awareness Month is being observed under the theme: “Tourism for All – Building Partnerships for Tourism Development”.
GTA’s Logistics Manager, Carla Chandra, expressed gratitude to Wilderness Explorers for their partnership in hosting the duo from National Geographic.
Chandra said that GTA continues to recognise FAM tours as a very cost-effective means of marketing the destination (Guyana); many of which, she noted, have delivered results.
“FAM tours have gotten us listed in catalogues, expanded our sales distribution, (and) features being done in international publications, including the National Geographic Magazine.”
She added that FAM tour participants are offered a first-hand opportunity to experience Guyana’s products and services: “It’s only when someone is armed with the actual experience that they can positively and actively sell the destination, in this case Guyana, so with this, the GTA will continue to partner with the private sector to host many more FAM trips.”
President of the Tourism and Hospitality Association Guyana (THAG), and Product Development Specialist at Wilderness Explorers, Andrea de Caires said that in September she had the pleasure of attending the Adventure Travel World Summit in Alaska, where she met the journalist and photographer.
The THAG President said they told her that they were going to be in Suriname and she urged them to visit Guyana: “Marco and Rene and I were in conversation; they mentioned that they were going to Suriname and I was like you are right next door, you have to come discover Guyana, South America.”
De Caires said they took on the challenge and spoke to their Editor-in-Chief, and through partnership with their tourism partners, “they were able to bring and host them and to give them all the magic of Guyana in a short period of time.
“They were able to go to Demerara Distillers Limited (DDL) and spend four hours and learn about our rum, went on a 206 (plane) without the doors on to Kaieteur to take great pictures, they also stayed at Surama Eco Lodge and overnighted,” THAG’s President explained.