Guyanese urged to be ambassadors as Tourism Awareness Month kicks off

Guyanese are being urged to actively participate in the promotion of the nation’s local products by posting photos and videos of Guyana on social media to raise awareness of the country’s unique tourism industry in observation of Tourism Awareness Month (TAM) 2016.

A list of exciting activities aimed at showcasing and promoting Guyana’s pristine tourism sector are on the itinerary for TAM 2016 and everyone is encouraged to join the fun.

This annual hallmark event was launched on Tuesday at the Business Ministry under the theme “Tourism for All: Building Partnerships for Tourism Development”.

Director of the Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA), Indranauth Haralsingh, in his remarks said every day should be geared towards promoting Guyana and everyone should be ambassadors of the country’s rich tourism.

“Take a picture and post it and share it. Whether it is food, an old church, a heritage building, an old property, a smile, a family, animals or plants, any attraction, an event, an activity. Post pictures and encourage others to share them and collectively, let us all help to sell and promote destination Guyana,” he urged.

As usual, the activities in observation of this month include the Rockstone Fish Festival, Guyana Restaurant Week, the Explore Guyana Magazine launch, the South Rupununi Safari, among numerous training initiatives and talk shows aimed at promoting and celebrating Guyana.

More details on the various activities in the line-up for TAM 2016 are available in the press.

In a unique twist, Guyana Restaurant Week will be incorporated into a scavenger hunt to encourage more people to experience the fine dining lifestyle at an affordable price.

More information on this initiative can be found on guyanarestaruantweek.com.

President of the Tourism and Hospitality Association of Guyana (THAG) Andrea de Caires urged all Guyanese to participate in these events as they will go a long way in helping the country’s burgeoning tourism sector.

Meanwhile, Haralsingh explained that tourism has a tremendous impact on the economy, significantly contributing roughly 8 per cent to the country’s GDP.

“Our tourism industry generates billions of dollars in tourism spending each year. In 2015, 219 visitors came to Guyana. Let us assume that each spent an average of US$600… that translates to about GY$25.5 billion of dollars by these visitors,” he said.

He reminded that the revenue collected through taxes on tourism products is used to build roads, bridges and other important infrastructure and provide critical services to the public.

Haralsingh also noted that tourism creates employment for thousands of Guyanese both directly and indirectly.

He disclosed that Guyana surpassed last year’s tourist arrivals by 11 per cent already and that just in May alone for the jubilee celebration, there was a 102 per cent increase in tourist arrivals.

“Our goal is to continue to increase visitor arrivals in Guyana, increase their length of stay and get them to spend more,” he said.

Additionally, Haralsingh urged to sector to make tourism accessible and affordable to everyone.