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Guyana can capitalise on Barbados’ decline in visitors – Tourism Minister
Guyana is poised to capitalise on Barbados’ declining regional visitors, since the South American country has assets the island cannot offer.
Minister of Tourism, Catherine Hughes
This is according to Minister of Tourism, Catherine Hughes, who in a recent interview with this publication said that Guyana offers something “new and different” for the international tourist market.
“The Ecotourism and Adventure Tourism industries are the fastest growing sectors in the Tourism Industry. That’s why destinations like Costa Rica and Belize are doing well,” said Minister Hughes.
According to the Minister, Guyana is an alternative to the conventional “blue waters, white sand” locations for travellers who have been there enough times to know what they are getting.
“They want something different, which we (Guyana) are strategically placed to supply,” said the Tourism Minister. She added that the country has the assets to provide experiences that are new and different for travelers both in and outside the Caribbean Region.
It was recently published in sections of the Caribbean media that Barbados had seen a reduction in Trinidadian visitors, the island’s number one market in the region. According to an official from the Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc. (BTMI), Vicky Chandler, last year, Trinidad accounted for 35.6 percent of the island’s visitors.
However, with increasing competition from the United States and Canada, Barbados has seen an overall decline in visitors. According to Chandler, 2014 was the third year the island saw a reduction in visitors not only from Trinidad, but the entire Region.
With tourism being the backbone of Barbados’ economy, the island has kick-started a strategic and vigorous campaign to reinvent the country’s image with regard to what it has to offer. Chandler was quoted as saying that “most people love Barbados but they have done almost everything. We really do want to reinvent ourselves.”
Additionally, while Minister Hughes did say that the country can capitalise on Barbados’ declining numbers, she contended that the countries can work together to provide travel packages for international visitors. Such packages would include joint trips to Barbados and Guyana.
As it relates to Guyana, Hughes said that the country is looking to adapt an “aggressive marketing plan”, which will focus on products the nation has an upper-hand with. She pointed out that such products are locations along the Essequibo River, the Rupununi and other areas outside Georgetown. Moreover, the Minister added that activities such as bird watching and sports fishing are gaining more attention with the international market.
However, for Guyana to be more competitive in the Tourism Sector, Minister Hughes said that the country has to look into reviewing its pricing structure.
“We need to have incentives like reduction on taxes in aviation fuel… We need employ a lower VAT rates for the Tourism Sector,” related Hughes. She also noted that reduced airline taxes could bring new airline carriers to the country which would increase competition, ultimately benefitting the consumer market for travel to Guyana.
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