Aggressive marketing critical to selling tourism product - GTA
By Jaime Hall
Guyana Chronicle
April 27, 2004
MORE money would have to be expended on display techniques and promotional material if Guyana is to attract a greater number of tourists.
This is the view of the Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA) which is of the opinion that this country's nature and adventure tourism is comparable, and in some cases, better than what is offered in other territories.
GTA head, Mr. Donald Sinclair told the Chronicle in an interview recently that Guyana's rare attractions can pull nature lovers from all over the world and every advantage should be taken to effectively sell this country's tourism product.
He said the authority and other supporting bodies such as the Tourism and Hospitality Association of Guyana (THAG), are planning a number of events later this year to continue marketing Guyana abroad.
Sinclair said the Authority would be embarking on different kinds of "road shows" targetting a number of cities in North America and, if all goes well, the European market. The road shows target an exclusive audience.
This strategy is similar to the Go-Invest model where the manufacturing sector takes its products to a targetted audience, as was done in Trinidad in June last and in Barbados in October.
Guyana is but one of about 150 countries at tourism trade fairs, Sinclair said. At World Trade Fairs, local operators would build on already established contacts to further market Guyana as a tourism destination.
As part of the marketing efforts, Guyana on Show will be taken to Trinidad and Tobago in June, and immediately after that, a similar show will be held in Toronto, Canada, to meet essentially the Guyanese community there, the media and tour operators.
In November, Guyana will be represented at the World Travel Market in Europe.