Guyana attracts investors interested in luxury eco-lodges

Mar 06, 2011 News

Investors seeking eco-tourism opportunities were in Guyana on a two-day visit recently where they met with the Tourism Minister Manniram Prashad.

From left, Steve Fitzgerald of Pangaea Associates; Paul Savoldelli of Qandara Luxury Nature Travel; Minister of Tourism, Manniram Prashad and Partnership Coordinator of the Clinton Foundation, Mr. Jan Hartke.

The visiting team included Partnership Coordinator of the Clinton Foundation, Mr. Jan Hartke; Steve Fitzgerald of Pangaea Associates; and Paul Savoldelli of Qandara Luxury Nature Travel. and according to the Tourism Ministry the team was impressed with Guyana’s tremendous tourism potential and what it has to offer in terms of eco-tourism, boasting a unique and diverse tourism product.
The team who deals with top end luxury travel, pointed out that eco-tourism attracts the high-end market and can help create job opportunities and develop the local communities.
To this end, the investors are looking at investing in luxury eco-lodges.
Pangaea Associates is a partnership established by Steve and Nicky Fitzgerald, formerly of Halcyon Hotels and CC Africa and Beyond, which was the predecessor company to Qandara, that provides a full service consultancy in the luxury travel and eco tourism sector (luxury city and country hotels, safari lodges, bespoke travel services and tour operations in both Africa and India) with specific experience in fund raising, capital structure, soft funding, operations, branding, sales and marketing.
Minister Prashad said that Guyana is an eco-tourist paradise and the President of Guyana is very passionate about climate change and protecting the environment, which fits well into eco-tourism.
The Minister noted that tourism is relatively new to Guyana, which has a unique tourism product to offer.
He said that our eco-lodges which can indeed use some improvements, are being manned by the local communities themselves, and are filled for the rest of the year.
Minister Prashad said that Guyana has got the product but “we need the expertise, advice and can learn from others experiences”, hence he is happy that they are looking at eco-tourism opportunities in Guyana.
He said that Guyana is becoming known now through excellent international PR and attending international trade shows such as International Trade Bourst (ITB) in Berlin, World Trade Market in London, and Vakantiebeurs Trade Fair in Holland.
He added that a British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) team is currently shooting a ten-part series called ‘Serious Explorers Raleigh’ retracing the footsteps of Sir Walter Raleigh in search of the fabled City of Gold, El Dorado.
Prashad said there are a host of new things that are waiting to be developed in the tourism sector, and a lot of positive investments can take place in terms of eco-tourism as well.
A presentation on investment opportunities in our tourism sector was done, and the Tourism Ministry took the group to Arrowpoint Nature Resort, located on the left bank of the Kamuni Creek, for a firsthand look and to experience Guyana’s nature, eco and adventure-based tourism product.
The Tourism Ministry said that it welcomes such investments and looks forward to working with them to push forward our tourism sector.