GA 2000 promoting Guyana in Canada
GUYANA Airways 2000 (GA 2000), in an effort to boost the country's tourism industry, is involved in a promotional drive to prove and demonstrate to tour operators, especially in Canada, that such a market exists here. The campaign is being done in conjunction with the Tourism and Hospitality Association in Guyana (THAG), to promote the venture here. To this end, discussions are on-going with a concerned party in Canada with respect to having a familiarisation flight to Guyana, consisting of representatives of agencies, hoteliers, hospitality and travel agencies and tour operators. GA 2000's Chief Executive Officer, Mr Anthony Mekdeci, hinted at the arrangement during a press briefing at the company's Main Street headquarters Thursday, to announce the launching of twice weekly direct flights to Miami, beginning October 29. The A300 airbus which the airline operates through an arrangement with Nordstress of Australia, will fly to the new destination on Fridays and Sundays. GA 2000 started operations on June 9 last, becoming Guyana's first national carrier operating as a private company. The airline now has five direct, non-stop flights to New York and Toronto. Mekdeci said some of the local hospitality agencies are involved in the project with GA 2000, among them Le Meridien Pegasus, which has offered to accommodate the `FAM' flight visitors free of charge. The visitors will also benefit from tours to a number of resorts including Shanklands located on the Essequibo River. Mekdeci, when told of complaints by some of the travelling public about occasional late departures by the airline, explained that this is through no fault of the airline. He identified as problem areas inadequate slots and the late clearing of the travelling public by Immigration, because of a "culture". On the issue of slots, the GA 2000 top official pointed out that, unfortunately, the airline's schedule clashes with another wide-bodied aircraft at 16:00 hrs. (Wendella Davidson)
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