Guyana's most popular tourist resort
WHAT THE PEOPLE SAY
What is Guyana's most popular tourist attraction and where do you spend your holidays? The man/woman-in-the-street share their views on the question this week. Their comments follow: Carmelita Khan - housewife/secretary: `If I had the resources I would go for a holiday with my family at Baganara. The Essequibo River and all it offers is the country's most popular attraction. It appears to be so quiet and peaceful. Mind you, I have never been to the interior. If I have to go overseas I would prefer to know that I see a major part of Guyana first. Many people would like to travel in Guyana's interior to experience life there. Because of financial problems many of us cannot do so. If they drop the cost and try to balance the cost out with the prices they pay foreigners, I think many Guyanese would travel to the countryside and learn more of the country by seeing it. The same amount of money I used to travel to Lethem can take me to Trinidad. Foreigners who come to this country see more of it than those of us who live here because they can afford to travel.' Satesh Hardat - student: `I think the rainforests and all its splendour is what is Guyana's main attraction. This would include our rivers, creeks, waterfalls including Guyana's majestic Kaieteur. Because I have lived only in Demerara and I have not gone beyond I find Essequibo a fascination. One of my wishes is to really see most of Guyana before going overseas. You only read of our mountains and its other geographical and historical features in books or classes but it would be good to actually see them. It makes no sense me going overseas and hearing people talk about their country and I know very little about mine." Kurt Peters - tradesman: `I would vote for Baracara as the most popular tourist resort and the Kaieteur Falls as the most popular tourist site. Though I would like to take holidays in Guyana, I really cannot afford it. I normally take my holidays in French Guiana and that is because it is where I work. Unlike French Guiana where places are more accessible by road the same cannot be said for Guyana. I would like to see all of Guyana but in particular, the Kaieteur Falls. While roads would have made travel cheaper, we do not have good roads linking the interior and travel by plane is expensive.' Samantha Mohamed - computer/business student: `To me Guyana's most popular tourist attraction is the Baracara Island Resort because it is easily accessible from the city. It is located in an ideal scenic location overlooking the Essequibo, Mazaruni and the Cuyuni rivers and tour packages offered includes visits to a number of places of interest in the area. Essequibo to me is just beautiful. I love it. So far I have taken all my holidays in Guyana where it has been affordable and if I had money to spend I would prefer to go into the real interior. I have never been to Berbice so that is another area left for me to visit. However, I think that for people like me who do not know people in Berbice some package for travel and to experience life in Berbice could be put in place. Everyone comes to Georgetown where the air is so polluted. I would like others to experience the fresh air and beauty of the interior. If someone offers me a free ticket to travel overseas to holiday only then would I do so.' Ryan D'Andrade - businessman: `I would like to go to Kaieteur Falls and while it is famous and well known I think that the town of Bartica is the country's most popular tourist attraction. This is so because it is easily accessible by road and river. And people travel to Bartica in the morning and can return to the city the same day or the following or whenever they want to. I have been there twice and I like the social atmosphere. Travelling to Bartica for me was an experience. It was like going to another country altogether. I would like to go beyond Bartica but every time you ask the price the figures quoted are generally too expensive.' Sarvanand Shiwdial - student: `The most popular tourist attraction to me is the Kaieteur Falls. I have visited lots of places in Demerara and Berbice but I now want to visit places in Essequibo. The furthest I have been is to Parika. I would like to visit the Kaieteur Falls, the North West and the rainforests. Because I am a student I would advocate a special student's travel package. I would like to go overseas but I must be able to boast about my country and make comparisons.' Leroy Stuart - private sector employee: `Shanklands is the country's most popular tourist resort and Kaieteur the most popular resort. Shanklands offers a range of experiences in the country's interior. I have travelled to a number of places and I love the beauty of our country. I would encourage Guyanese to visit the Kaieteur Falls, places in the Rupununi such as Moco Moco and St Ignatius. I have been to a number of places in the country during work-related visits and I would like the opportunity to visit more places. More people are today trying to experience nature.' Naseer Khan - self-employed/seaman: `The country's most popular tourist attraction is the Kaieteur Falls. I have travelled to other parts of this country and I think it is breathtaking. The scenery at places in the North West such as Matthew's Ridge and Amakura are simply fantastic. Linden off the highway is another great place with its mines and all that makes up the community is good. What has impressed me most is the Kaieteur Falls. If I had to take my family somewhere on a holiday it would be to Kaieteur. If I was given a holiday offer of my choice I would go for a Guyanese holiday away from the city or the coastland. To attract Guyanese visitors to other parts of the country, tour operators would have to cut on costs for Guyanese. At present they are only catering for foreigners.' Nadia Janki - housewife: `Lake Mainstay is Guyana's most popular attraction. It has become even more popular with the establishment of the Mainstay Holiday Resort. I have always taken my holidays in Georgetown which really has nothing to offer me. And anyway I would prefer to go to America on any holiday because all my relatives are there. In Guyana if I had to take my family it would be to the `hot and cold' lakes and to Mainstay. I think that Essequibo is the most beautiful part of Guyana and Essequibians are a very hospitable people.' Yoga Dasa - preacher: `I live in the Corentyne and I do not travel much. However, the upper Corentyne River is beautiful. Courtours (tour operator) has taken advantage of the beauty and has established resorts in the river. We have Number 63 beach right there but it is lying waste. There are other places that I would like to visit but I do not get the time. Kaieteur Falls is the country's most popular tourist attraction.'
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