If you want your relatives to come for Xmas, think again: all incoming flights starting from around December 15 up to the 26th are full to near capacity out of New York and Toronto.
This will cap off a year of record arrivals to Guyana resulting in a mini boom for some resorts and hotels during the summer months. Carla James, statistics and research officer at the Guyana Tourism Authority says by mid-December they hope to break the 112,824 mark for tourist arrivals. Currently the total this year stands at 99,859, with figures for November and this month outstanding. Last year, total tourist arrivals were 100,911.
Mark DeFreitas, of Universal Airlines told Stabroek Business that the full loads are expected to extend into January and the airline is increasing their flights to take advantage of the strong seasonal demand. There will be daily or even twice daily flights to New York. There will also be extra flights between Trinidad and Tobago bound to New York. Flights out on all the airlines are pretty much full starting January 1 to 15.
At Caribbean Star Airlines, which serves the Caribbean, there will be no additional flights even though there has been a small increase in bookings, reported reservation agent Shondel Maxwell. This increase comes mainly from Barbados, from where Guyanese are returning home for the holidays.
So can the expected increase in flights mean no room at the inn?
Probably not. Shaun McGrath, co-owner of Cara Hotels notes that a lot of overseas Guyanese prefer to stay with family. However, bookings are expected to be better this season. McGrath says the hotel's traditional clients do not usually travel around this time. Cara will be having a 'special' this month of US$60 per room until January 5.
Abdoul Ba, the sales and marketing manager of Baganara Island Resort, is "very much optimistic" that bookings will surpass those of last December. Baganara is coming off a strong summer and is offering a two-night, three-day special which includes spending Christmas at the resort for $62,000 per couple and an Old Year's Night special of one night, two days for $43,000 per couple.
Sales Agent, Romona Deolall at Shanklands, says so far they only have one overseas confirmed booking from a family of four with another tentative. But "definitely it will increase," Deolall believes.
Wilderness Explorers tours has an offer of US$125 for overnight (two days and one night) visits to the Canopy Walkway at Iwokrama.
At Raddison Suites, in 83 Laluni Street, the managing director Ian Wilson explained that bookings for December, so far, are not more than usual but should pick up.