Election tension adversely affects Guyana’s tourism sector

Dec 11, 2011 News

Tension following the General and Regional Elections on November 28, and even the fear and anticipation of conflict prior to the elections, have adversely affected the tourism sector.
Many hoteliers and tourist resorts across the country have experienced cancellations and fewer bookings. Everyone is on the ‘wait and see mode’.
This is according to Kit Nascimento, Member of Tourism and Hospitality Association of Guyana (THAG) and the proprietor of Hurakabra River Resort.
Nascimento explained that Guyana’s tourism sector peak season is during the Christmas holidays, since many tourists want to escape the winter. He said that while many other Caribbean, Central and South American countries are being flocked by tourists, Guyana is not benefiting this year.
With fewer visitors, tourist operators are experiencing financial difficulties to pay staff and maintain their hotels and resorts. They are reaching into their pockets to pay staff because laying-off during this season is not feasible since training is costly.
He said that the hospitality industry is one of the most difficult industries in the world to manage, since service has to be professional and of high quality.
There are no established training institutions in Guyana, but specialists are brought in by THAG to conduct training. When these personnel are trained it is unwise to lose them.
For instance, Hurakabra River Resort is located in the Essequibo River where the gold industry is flourishing. The remunerations of employees in the gold industry are posing stiff competition to acquiring and keeping personnel in the tourism sector.
Nascimento added that if the country continues to go down the road of destabilization with street protests, persons being afraid to leave their homes and visitors not opting for Guyana as a tourist destination the tourism sector as well as other sectors will suffer.
He said that pictures of leading politicians shot in their backs with rubber bullets by ranks of the Guyana Police Force being circulated worldwide is extremely damaging.
However, outsiders looking at Guyana as a dangerous destination, in terms of criminal activities, is not new. Nascimento stressed that Guyana does not have a good reputation overseas.
“If you look at some of the major tourism sites which people log onto and examine the advice and reports given on Guyana, these things are very negative.”
He stated that whenever persons call him in relation to yachting in Guyana, the first question they ask is about safety and piracy.
“The piracy is not aimed at yachts but it is called piracy, so every time the media reports that fishing boats are attacked by pirates, the term pirate to an international yacht cruiser means that there are people in the business of piracy in Guyana.

Latest News

Election tension adversely affects Guyana’s tourism sector

Related

Similar Articles

The Glenn Lall Show | January, 27th, 2025

Follow on Tik Tok @Glennlall

THE BLUNT OF THE DAY

Sports

KARCC hails 2025 Guyana-Suriname Group Ride a massive success

Cricket West Indies Launches Bold New Scouting...

Berbice Educational High CSEC Physical Education...

GSL 2025 to take place in July

Ken Harvey dominates GBA’s Pepsi/Michael...

Goal is Money survive scare on Opening Night of...

Features/Columnists

The burden of proof rests on the asserting party

OAS Secretary General Election and renewed OAS Consensus

Straight talk

Publisher’s Note

Weekend Cartoon

Bridge Watch

Demerara Harbour Bridge

> Berbice Bridge […]

Election tension adversely affects Guyana’s tourism sector

Share this:

Related

Similar Articles

The Glenn Lall Show | January, 27th, 2025

Follow on Tik Tok @Glennlall

THE BLUNT OF THE DAY

Sports

Features/Columnists

Publisher’s Note

Weekend Cartoon

Bridge Watch

Demerara Harbour Bridge

> Berbice Bridge […]