Tourism association focuses on training
Stabroek News
January 28, 2003
The Tourism and Hospitality Association of Guyana (THAG) will assume lead responsibility for training for the tourism sector and will continue its own marketing programme with a focus on the country's eco and adventure tourism offerings.
In a telephone interview THAG Executive Director, Indira Anandjit told Stabroek News the association was willing to take on the task in view of the training its membership has received through the Caribbean Programme for Economic Competitiveness (CPEC) over the past year. It is expected that the second phase will get started next month.
THAG's programme will include training and awareness among the various players in the industry; another focus will be hotel plant maintenance, tour guiding, accommodation and facilities, the hosting of an international seminar/conference; mobile awareness programmes; a school system awareness programme.
Noting that the issue of marketing will lie with the newly-established Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA), Anandjit said that THAG would also work with its members on marketing in the current climate of criminal activity. A large amount of funds for marketing would be required to assure people of their safety, she advised.
In selling Guyana's products, Anandjit said that it should be noted that Guyana's eco-tourist resorts and nature-based products, such as Kaieteur and Orinduik Falls, Iwokrama, Rupununi, Timberhead, Arrowpoint, Shanklands, Baracara, Baganara and Mainstay resorts, are located in the hinterland and interior regions. In addition guided city tours, which include shopping, are also conducted as part of the packaged tours being offered by the local operators.
The Guyana Tourism Competitiveness Project will focus on establishing high standards in training, product and product delivery among the industry workers. It will also focus on local and international awareness of Guyana's products.
To this end, Anandjit said that Guyana would be hosting an international travel/trade conference. THAG has been identified as the host and will work on this in collaboration with other sector players such as the tourism ministry, the GTA and regional airlines operating in Guyana.
It is expected that coming out of the conference, the local industry representatives will be introduced to international packaging and marketing and where possible enter into contracts with international operators.
A key feature of the second phase of the CPEC programme will be the introduction of international recognition and certification for the accommodation sector. It is expected that this will be done using the recently-adapted American Hotels and Lodgers Association training materials. The first phase included policy issues and public awareness.
THAG, the Ministry of Tourism, Industry and Commerce; the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport; the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs, the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Environmental Protection Agency and the Carnegie School of Home Economics were among those involved.
Through the public awareness programme conducted in various parts of the country, Anandjit said that some measure of success was achieved. One example was the Amerindian community of Santa/Aratak Mission in the Kamuni Creek, Demerara River which was the first indigenous community in Guyana and the Caribbean to become a member of a tourism association. While other communities have signalled their interest, she said they are not yet as organised as Santa/Aratak. As a spin-off to their membership of THAG Santa/Aratak is now benefiting from an Organisation of American States (OAS) training programme. Tours to the mission are also conducted by guides from the community.
The first phase of the CPEC programme also included attachments and visits to other countries where tourism plays a key role in the country's economy. Anandjit herself looked at marketing and destination management in Jamaica and Belize; a representative of the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs assessed the Dominican Caribs' involvement in the tourism industry in Dominica; a Ministry of Tourism official evaluated tourism statistics in Barbados; the EPA looked at environmental issues in Dominica which is promoting eco-tourism; and the Carnegie School of Home Economics was attached to the Pommarine Hospitality Institute in Barbados. (Miranda La Rose)
