Guyana tops tourist arrival increases for 2009 so far

The Guyana Tourism Authority says it has to differentiate itself from the famous sun, sand and sea brand pushed by other Caribbean destinations. (Photo: guyana-tourism.com)

GEORGETOWN, Guyana, November 5, 2009 – The world economic down-turn has significantly affected the tourism sector in the Caribbean with many countries recording a drop in tourist arrivals, but Guyana’s increase in tourist arrivals for the January to October period have placed the country in the top position in a recent report done for the Caribbean Tourism Organisation (CTO).

‘Outlook for the Global Economy and Caribbean Tourism’, prepared by Tourism Economics, an Oxford Economics Company in England, places Guyana above other countries with an over six per cent increase for the period.

Jamaica and Cuba recorded less than four per cent increases while other countries including the Dominican Republic, Aruba, Dominica, Curacao, Martinique, Puerto Rico, United States Virgin Islands, Belize and St Lucia recorded significant decreases.
 
“We have been vindicated in what we have been saying all along that Guyana has seen an increase in arrivals for 2009,” said Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce Manniram Prashad. “At the end of October we had figures close to nine per cent and, at the recent meeting held in St Lucia, (the CTO meeting), Guyana came in for high praise in terms of having increased its arrivals over 2008. Most of the countries have suffered a decline in tourist arrivals up to October.”
 
According to the report, “The Caribbean has borne the brunt of the economic downturn with double-digit declines in visits across the majority of destinations. Only Guyana, Jamaica, Cuba and Saba have registered increases for the year.”

Prashad expressed his gratitude for the work of stakeholders in the industry including tour operators and hotel and resort owners, in facilitating the improvements in the sector. He pointed out that what remains to be done is to concentrate on the quality of the service provided since Guyana has been ranked highly in the report.

The Minister said there has been much work done to ensure that Guyana’s tourism sector is diversified to offer alternative avenues including birding, sport fishing, town days, and regattas.

“We are happy with the growth in tourism, we are happy with the quality and the improvement that we have seen in tourism,” he said.

The increase in visitors and returning Guyanese has prompted several changes in the airline industry with several airlines putting on additional flights.

“There will be additional flights by Delta throughout the Christmas season, they would have a flight per day, and Caribbean Airlines would be increasing sometimes two to three flights per day,” Prashad said.  

He also pointed out that Titan Tours would be continuing on December 7th with their one-hop non-stop flight from Toronto every week until the end of the holiday season and Sky Service will also be offering once weekly flights from Toronto to Guyana.