Noting that tourism is human--resource intensive, creating jobs across the full employment spectrum, the Trade Minister in a Tourism Awareness message said that many are small businesses which can serve to alleviate urban and rural unemployment. This would then create great opportunities for skilled and serni-skilled persons ranging from caterers to craftsmen, to become involved in the tourism industry.

Shree Chan noted that November was designated Tourism Awareness Month when the Guyana Tourism Awareness Programme was launched in 1994.

The objective is to heighten the perception of all Guyanese, through specially organised programmes, of Government's efforts to develop a viable tourism industry.

It seeks too, to sensitise the public of the role they can play in tourism and the ways in which they can contribute to, and derive benefits from the development of the industry.

According to Minister Shree Chan, over the last decade, tourism has emerged as the largest and fastest growing industry in the world. This year, he said, the industry is expected to generate US$3.6 trillion in gross output and 256 billion jobs worldwide.

At the regional level, travel and tourism ate projected to produce US$25.4 billion in gross output and 3.4 million jobs. "It is thus evident that this is an industry which can contrib ute significantly to the economics of developing countries, such as ours," the Minister noted. As a matter of fact, he said, many developing coutries, recognising the potentials of the industry to generate foreign exchange earnings and employment, are vigourously pursuing tourism as a development option.

In an effort to derive the benefits which can accrue from pursuing tourism development, the Government has been focusing on the development of a desirable tourism product,in primarily two areas - Human Resource Development and training, and the upgrading of the accommodation facilities.

The Minister also pointed out that both the public and private sectors have benefited from the various training programmes implemented by the Tourism Division and which included staff of sister Ministries and Agencies, Customs and Immigration Officers, teachers, tour guides and operators, hotel employees and youth groups.

Last year, several small tourism establishments particpated in an OAS-funded project which aimed at enhancing the operations of facilities to provide services to customers.

In addition, since the launch of 'Visit Guyana Year', there has been an indication that several local entrepreneurs have been refurbishing and investing in tourist facilities The anticipated increase in room capacity augurs well for growth and development of the industry.

Such initiatives, along with imminent development of the Kaieteur National Park as a renowned tourist attraction, will serve to enhance Guyana's potential as a desirable vacation destination, the Tourism Minister said.

Meanwhile, Government plans for the development of a National Protected Areas System will certainly serve to place Guyana alongside those better known eco-tourism destinations within the Region.

He added that the recently held Consultation on Tourism Legislation is another initiative which it is envisaged will contribute to the enhanced quality of Guyana's tourism product.

Also with the regulation of the industry, mechanisms would be institued to monitor all tourism and related operations along with the expected guides requiring tour operators to register withthe Trade Tourism and Industry Ministry.