Tourism has central role to play in Guyana’s future – President
Recipient of the President’s Award for Investment in Tourism Chunilall Baboolall owner of RY Enterprises Inc receives award from President Ramotar
PRESIDENT Donald Ramotar alluded that tourism has a central role to play in the future of Guyana.
He made this comment at the Ministry of Tourism, Industry and Commerce and the Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA) 8th annual tourism awards ceremony on Friday at the Guyana International Conference Centre, Liliendaal.
Under the theme ‘Tourism Entrepreneurs and Ambassadors Mobilised’ the Tourism Ministry and the GTA recognised all tourism stakeholders at one of the signature events within its month-long list of activities.
“This is where we recognise and reward our partners in the development of tourism in several categories,” GTA’s Senior Communications Officer, Ms. Chevon Lim noted as she opened the ceremony.
Recipient of the President’s Award for Investment in Tourism Cassia Alphonso, owner of 704 Sports Bar and Night Club receives award from President Ramotar
Eighteen awards were presented at the ceremony. Three companies copped the prestigious President’s Award for Investment in Tourism, namely the 704 Sports Bar and Night Club under the umbrella of Alfonso’s Group, BK Air an arm of BK International and RY Enterprises Inc.
President of the Tourism and Hospitality Association of Guyana (THAG), Shaun McGrath congratulated the awardees while also noting that all players in the sector are winners “because we have come a long way in the last few years. Visitors’ arrivals have increased year after year, this just proves that destination Guyana has made its way on the market.”
He explained the reasons for the Guyana Tourism Ambassadors programme and noted too that THAG is in full support as this venture which will promote destination Guyana overseas as well as locally. He stressed and at the same time encouraged all Guyanese “that you too need to be full time ambassadors of Guyana.”
McGrath emphasised that there are many reasons why Guyana’s product is receiving so much interest and we need to continue promoting the positives of our country. “We all have a role in promoting the positives of Guyana and indeed these are many,” he said.
The Guyana Tourism Ambassadors were all announced at the ceremony, and they are David ‘Dave’ Martins, Clive Hubert Lloyd, Andrew King, Hugh Ross, Nicolette Fernandes, Joseph ‘Reds’ Perreira and Shivnarine Chanderpaul.
Recipient of the President’s Award for Investment in Tourism Briony Tiwarie owner of BK Air receives award from President Ramotar
Acting Minister of Tourism Industry & Commerce, Irfaan Ali, also congratulated the awardees and urged all to be committed to Guyana and change the negative mind set we have. He expressed that tourism provides the best opportunities to bring the country together.
Ali alluded that Guyana will be twinning its tourism product with Barbados. He noted that this is the way forward and these are the decisions we need to take if we want to move forward. He explained that “you will be offered the sun, sand and sea as well as a complete eco-tourism package,” by doing this it will make all aspects of travel, accommodation and food less expensive.
Ali explained that tourism has proven itself as a contributor to the economy and will become a major contributor to the economy. He emphasised that tourism is the future of Guyana and “tourism will succeed and will dominate.”
A section of the audience in attendance
Richard Sealy, Chairman of the Caribbean Tourism Organisation (CTO), expressed congratulations to all and urged all stakeholders to promote their country as this is where the future is heading. Tourism, he explained, is the future and twinning with Barbados will benefit both countries.
During his feature address, President Ramotar congratulated the Tourism Minister and his staff for promoting tourism in Guyana and for working with the persons that are directly involved. He noted that “this is a partnership with the Government and the private sector, and this partnership has been doing well.”
He noted that the joint package with Barbados is a great economic and business collaboration and as he explained that integration within CARICOM will be accelerated when we have such partnership. He added that such collaboration will bring the Caribbean countries together with one goal and would eventually lead to further collaboration with other Regions.
The Head of State asserted: “We have a glorious future and I am absolutely sure with the whole process of us diversifying our economy. Tourism has a central role in this regard.”
Source - http://guyanachronicle.com/tou...as-future-president/
