Barbadian journalists visit local tourist resorts
Guyana Chronicle
October 13, 2002
Ms. Carol Martindale of the Barbados Nation (fourth from right) engages Permanent Secretary In the Ministry of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, Ms. Sonia Roopnauth (sixth from right) in "tourism talk" at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, Timehri yesterday. Also in photo from right are Mr. Christopher Wood, Ms. Ayesha Haniff, Ms. Roseann Pile, Mr. Brian Charles of Caribbean Star Airline, Ms. Donna Shortgill, PRO of the Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, Ms. Nikki Correia of THAG, an employee of the Ministry of Tourism and Mr. Carl Scott.
A TEAM of Barbadian journalists arrived here yesterday as part of the drive to promote Guyana as an eco-tourist destination.
During their one-day stay they are to visit several resorts along the Essequibo River.
Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, Ms. Sonia Roopnauth was on hand at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, Timehri, to welcome the team.
The team is accompanied by Mr. Brian Charles of Caribbean Star Airline, which is collaborating in the tourism promotion drive in the Caribbean region.
Ms. Roopnauth explained to the journalists that Guyana is a vast country and the natural beauty it has to offer cannot be consumed in a single day, unlike the islands in the Caribbean which can be driven around in a day.
Guyana's attractions are also different to the white sandy beaches they are accustomed to, she said.
She also informed them that during this year, her ministry in conjunction with the Tourism and Hospitality Association of Guyana (THAG) is promoting Guyana as a tourist destination at the regional level, as a follow up to last year when the focus was on promoting the local tourism potential among Guyanese.
Ms. Niki Correia of THAG welcomed the initiative to bring the team of journalists here and urged continued public/private sector collaboration, which she said is essential in the promotion of local tourism.
She also urged the journalists to highlight the positives they observe here on their return to Barbados which is one key tourism target destination.
The visiting team comprises Ms. Ayesha Haniff of the Caribbean Broadcasting Corporation, Ms. Carol Martindale of the Nation, Ms. Roseann Pile, and Mr. Carl Scott and Mr. Christopher Wood of Starcom Network Inc.
A national plan for the development of Guyana's vast eco-tourism potential was prepared by a team of Organisation of American States (OAS) experts to further boost the drive towards making Guyana one of the top eco-tourist spots around the globe.
The document was compiled by the Andersen Group Architects, Ltd, Minneapolis, Minnesota U.S.A. in consultation with local experts, the University of Guyana Division of Caribbean and Tourism Studies, and related business entities. Mr. Robert Andersen headed the team of foreign experts while the OAS provided funding for the project.
The plan is incorporated in the National Development Strategy (NDS), and integrates environmental protection and a system for the development of national parks.