DaSilva pledges aid for tourism at magazine launch
MINISTER with the portfolio, Mr Geoffrey DaSilva has announced that Government will spend "tens of millions of dollars" next year on tourism development. Speaking at the Wednesday launch of `Explore Guyana', a magazine to showcase this country, he declared that "tourism is we thing" and urged all Guyanese to back it and push for its development. The publication was printed by Media and Editorial Projects Limited of Trinidad and produced by Tourism and Hospitality Association of Guyana (THAG). It was introduced at Le Meredien Pegasus Hotel, Kingston, Georgetown function chaired by Ms Colette McDermott, Executive Director of THAG. DaSilva, noting that debating the industry is a good sign, said Government is doing a number of things to promote Guyana in a very effective way, including trying to erase the negative image of it overseas. The Minister stressed the importance of convincing others abroad that Guyana is indeed beautiful and said the Administration is also planning to establish a system through which visitors can be met at the airport and presented with brochures. He disclosed that an Old Year's Night `lime' in Main Street and a better Mashramani parade for 2000, also in the city, are being organised. Among other projects is the taking of a `Guyana Show' to Trinidad and Suriname, DaSilva said. President of THAG, Mr Shaun McGrath said the periodical is a "definitive guide to (the) true Guyana" and the latest marketing effort to show off Guyana internationally. He reported that there was a dramatic decline in the numbers visiting between 1994 and 1997 and that THAG has spent US$75,000 to market Guyana, with the help of Government. McGrath said 20,000 of the `Explore Guyana' issue are in print and will be distributed as far and wide as possible, with the aim of presenting a much better impression of this country and Guyanese and THAG recently created a new website at www.exploreguyana.com. Managing Director of the Trinidad publishing firm, Mr Jeremy Taylor said he is happy that such a project can be undertaken in the region for Caribbean people. "We can mobilise Caribbean resources to get these things done. Next year we will be twice as good," he promised.
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