The tourism industry is the 4th largest foreign exchange earner in the economy with a contribution of US$58 million per annum, according to Minister of Tourism, Manzoor Nadir.

Nadir was at the time speaking at the `Interior Tourism Awards Night' ceremony promoted by Wilderness Explorers (WE) and held at the Cara Lodge last week.

The ceremony concluded a two-day seminar entitled "Building On Our Potential - A Marketing and Networking Opportunity" which was hosted by WE, a Guyanese tour company, and aimed at uniting the "key players" in the tourism industry for a brief series of presentations and discussions on topics of interest.

The awards covered seven categories for the period 1999 - 2000 and included Best Interior Accommodation, Best Interior Cuisine, Best Interior Service, Best Interior Staff, Best Range of Activities, Best Interior Transportation and the International Wholesalers Award for Best Interior Tourism Product.

Dadanawa resort carted off the awards for Service, Staff and Best Tourism Product (voted for by the International Tour Operators and Wholesalers linked to WE).

Le Meridien Pegasus Hotel and DD Signs sponsored the prizes for the first two awards which comprised two nights at Le Meridien and $40,000 worth of artwork, respectively, along with two return tickets to Suriname and two nights at the Residence Inn (compliments of the corresponding companies) for the last award.

Dinner for four at Cara Lodge (Cara Hotels) and an enlarged photograph of the winner's choice valued at US$250 (DDL FOTONATURA) went to the Shanklands resort for Cuisine and Accommodation, respectively.

BWIA sponsored two return tickets to Barbados for Timberhead as that resort won the award for Transportation while Surama was accredited with the Best Range of Activities award and was rewarded with two nights at Cara Suites in St. Lucia (Cara Hotels).

In a statement to the media, prior to the ceremony, overseas presenters William Vartorella, Terry McKendree and Jag Wigsten joined by Collette McDermott expressed the view that there are excellent opportunities for garnering foreign exchange through the local resorts which they agreed are "incredible."

According to the presenters, the need for focus in the area of "awareness" was gleaned from discussions during the seminar while Vartorella opined that the local interior landscape could create interesting film material for private Hollywood producers.

McDermott stated that the seminar has set a definite foundation for establishing valuable market access at all levels.

Nadir contended that the service sector is responsible for at least 70 percent of the development within a country, the greater majority of which is derived from its leisure enterprises. He added that over $500 billion is expended yearly at a global level within the tourism sector.

The tourism minister emphasised that networking and partnership are essential for the growth and expansion of resources, and noted that the recruitment of local residents would ensure that the income generated from the sector benefits Guyana and Guyanese and improves the capacity to offer better salaries internally.

Prime Minister Samuel Hinds, who also attended the function, echoed Nadir's sentiments regarding the potential of the tourism industry.

Managing Director of WE, Tony Thorne voiced the hope that his company will later expand at a regional level. "The awards are designed to acknowledge the efforts and standards achieved by the products that comprise Guyana's interior tourism industry and are part of the tour packages that are marketed and sold internationally by WE," he commented earlier that evening.

Present also were Permanent Secretary in the tourism ministry, Sonia Roopnauth, executives of WE, representatives of Barcellos Narine and Company Ltd. - auditors for WE, and a number of other prominent officials.