President Dr Irfaan Ali declared that his Government is ready to support a big player in the tourism sector as they seek to expand the country’s potential. Ali made this statement as he disclosed Guyana’s tourism potential during a roundtable discussion attended by several business officials from the UK and the European Union, earlier today.
“We need a big player in the market, and I’m telling you, the Government is ready to support such a player. We are ready to work on a long-term arrangement in bringing that player into the market,” Ali said. The President said too that it is imperative that there be a “re-engineering” of the way the industry is seen and that this must be done in a transformational way. He expressed the hope that the discourse will address what is required for Guyana to attain its potential of becoming a major player in the sector.
COUNTRY-TO-COUNTRY OPPORTUNITIES
President Ali acknowledged that sometimes markets are viewed narrowly and related that he does not believe it is about competition but rather about countries working together. “Sometimes if you look from new lens, markets can be combined to give you a better product and I think in the interest of tourism, it is how we combine an existing market with a fresh market that continues to build an existing product,” the President said. This, Ali said, is something that the Government is actively considering.
President Ali in attempting to illustrate this, explained that while Sandals Resorts focuses on exotic resorts in the Caribbean that is primarily based on blue water and white sand, they could offer the same services in Guyana while combining it with Barbados to offer a whole new product. “So you take six days of Sandals Resort, three in Barbados and three in Guyana, and you get two rich experiences. And that is where the real opportunity is,” he said.
The President noted too that South America is the only continent that has a massive forest like the Amazon, which includes countless different species of flora and fauna. Despite this, he said, the continent does not have a “true nature park” where people can experience all the different species in the Amazon. “That is an opportunity that is a low-hanging fruit. It is an opportunity that if you have a good player coming in, you can push the Government to work with you,” Ali remarked.
BUILDING GUYANA’S BRAND
Ali also stressed that brand positioning is a critical component, which is important in separating the country’s brand from other countries and building a niche market. The President explained that when he was Tourism Minister he examined hiking as a niche product, given the fact that Guyana is one of the best destinations for hiking.
It was pointed out that Hikers from all over the world will be attracted to Guyana’s potential, including many in Brazil’s northern cities, some of which are within driving range of the country. The President said that to tap into this market, the Government is going to develop the Lethem Airport to develop the border town as a hub.
He reiterated that Guyana is also looking to become the number one provider of education in biodiversity and ecological services. “How do we bring the best professors in the world and let them market Guyana as the premier destination for anyone studying biodiversity and environmental science? How do we create the country as the premier destination where an institution exists that gives the best quality education in this sphere? Those are things that will help us tremendously,” he added.
The Head of State urged the businessmen to invest now, since, with the country’s development trajectory, the cost for investment will significantly increase in the future.
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