Captain Sabet, who spoke to visitors welcomed aboard the largest tourism vessel to sail into Port Georgetown, said the tourists expressed keen interest in the country and the sites they visited.

He said the only hindrance to Guyana receiving similar vessels on a regular basis was the shallow mouth of the Demerara River.

Mr. Sabet said that while some cruise liners cater for younger entertainment passengers, Minerva II passengers are focusing on the discovery of new places and natural environments. "Thus Guyana was the ideal location."

Wilderness Explorers, the local company that brokered arrangements for the ship's arrival, worked for two years to bring a cruise ship to Guyana.

Some of the tourists viewed ancient architectures in Georgetown. Others toured Timberhead Resort, Baganara Island Resort, Shanklands Resort, Kaieteur National Park, and other tourism sites.

Minister of Tourism Industry and Commerce, Mr. Manzoor Nadir (right) meets some crewmembers aboard Minerva 11, the cruise ship, which docked at Port Georgetown on Sunday with 550 tourists on a-one-day visit here.
Most of the passengers were British, while a few were Americans, Canadians and Europeans.

The Guyana Manufacturers Association (GMA) arranged several displays of local craft, leather, jewellery, food and beverages, painting and accessory booths on the wharf for the tourists to purchase. A Cambio booth was also arranged for the tourists.

The Ministry of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, Customs and Excise Department and the Guyana Tourism Authority worked in conjunction with Wilderness Explorers to promote the arrival.

The vessel, which came from Brazil, left Sunday afternoon for Venezuela and then to others countries in the southern hemisphere.

Vendors on the wharf expressed the hope that similar cruise ships would come on a regular basis, which would create additional demand for products and employment for Guyanese.