Sports tourism to be pushed - Da Silva Revised plan targeted for mid next year By Desiree Jodah Stabroek News September 7, 2000 The Ministry of Trade, Tourism and Industry and some civic groups have started to implement a number of recommendations emanating from the Caribbean Tourism Organisation (CTO) conference held this year in Guyana and are revising the existing tourism plan. Minister Geoffrey Da Silva, speaking with Stabroek News, said that there was a National Eco-Tourism Plan which contained some of the ten recommendations. He said that, in keeping with one of the recommendations, the ministry in partnership with the tourism sector, would review all reports and proposals that have been prepared over the last decade with an aim of updating the plan. Those of the ten not included in the original plan would be drafted in. Da Silva explained that the revised plan would have to be completed for presentation at the next CTO conference mid 2001. Advisory authority The establishment of the Tourism Advisory Authority (TAA) by the end of the year is another of the proposals from the conference. According to the minister, the draft legislation to pave the way for the Authority would be tabled in Parliament this month. He added that by the end of this month, the ministry would be renting temporary accommodations for the authority. The sum of $20 million had been allocated in this year's budget for staffing and equipment. The Chess Hall building on Main Street, which would permanently house the TAA, would not be completed by the end of this year because of its deplorable condition. The TAA would comprise persons from the public and private sector in partnership. Its main task would be to promote markets and develop the tourism industry. Its focus would be on training, health and safety standards and environmental conservation. The authority would develop two-, five- and ten-year comprehensive plans. Sports tourism It would initiate and coordinate the development of sports tourism, cultural/heritage tourism and the arts and crafts industry. It would ensure experienced and innovative leaders from the public and private sectors are seconded to the staff and the board of the Tourism Authority. The minister said work had started in some of these areas and officials from the ministry and THAG would meet sports officials shortly. The two bodies would facilitate visits by sports officials to resorts across the country on a familiarisation tour. The Lethem rodeo, the Bartica Regatta and the motor races at the South Dakota Circuit would be given the support to develop as sports tourism. Permission was granted recently for a 26-seater Venezuelan aircraft to fly into Guyana as a commercial service. According to Da Silva, expanding growing air links is another proposal which is being implemented. He said a Brazilian service would commence shortly as well. The ministry, THAG and other players within the tourism sector are working together to develop arrival targets capacity in keeping with the preservation of the environment. Arrival targets Da Silva said that there had been an increase in the number of visitors this summer. He said some members of the industry did not anticipate the increase and as such experienced certain difficulties. He said realistic arrival targets for eco-tourists from North America, the Caribbean, Brazil, Suriname, French Guiana, Venezuela, Colombia and Europe would have to be developed so that the entire industry could plan and coordinate to deal with the number of arrivals. He observed that domestic airline services needed to increase their capacity. Members of the tourism sector are to visit Toronto, Atlanta and New York to promote Guyana and to garner information to develop multi-destination packages. The recent training of customs and immigration officers in a joint effort between the ministry and the Guyana Revenue Authority, according to the minister, was another of the recommendations from the conference. A second training exercise would be held for tour guides shortly. Government and THAG will coordinate a two-day tourism information sharing and strategy forum later this month with key public and private sector officials. Following the two-day programme a number of the participants will be selected to visit several destinations for a first-hand look at similar activities in other countries. The ministry is to ensure Guyana is represented at the World Trade Market in London later this year. Other aspects of the ten proposals being implemented, according to Da Silva, are the gathering of information by a Canadian consultant for an economic impact study which is funded by the Inter-American Development Bank; the development of web pages for small hotel owners by two Canadian volunteers to assist with wider use of information technology as well as facilitate creative advertising on the internet. According to the minister, this programme which started in January was an ongoing one. Protected areas Assisting with the establishment of a National Protected Areas System is another proposal coming out of the CTO conference. Da Silva said he was in discussion with officials of the National Parks Commission for closer partnership. Discussions centred on the development of the Kaieteur National Park and the establishment of a bio-diversity park within the Georgetown Zoo. Funding and technical assistance for the latter project is being explored. Da Silva said he would be meeting Minister of Home Affairs Ronald Gajraj shortly to discuss the issuing of special driver's licences to tourists and for tour buses. The Ministry of Local Government and the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs have started rehabilitating and building guest houses in the hinterland. He said a guest house was recently commissioned at Orinduik. Also in keeping with the tourism drive, the Ministry of Works is looking at repairing roads. Material from the CTO conference would be used in a public tourism awareness programme. This programme would include lectures, seminars and events with schools, businesses and civic organisations. The minister said that visits have been made to some schools, but on an ad-hoc basis. He said the ministry along with THAG would formalise regular trips to schools. Plans to encourage wider use of a manual on tourism careers, which was prepared with funding by the Organisation of American States, are being discussed. Da Silva was optimistic that the plan would be ready for presentation next year at the CTO conference. Follow the goings-on in Guyana in Guyana Today