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BARTICA, Guyana (Tuesday, March 16, 2021) — Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, Oneidge Walrond, disclosed that the government is working to revitalise tourism in Guyana. However, she believes that tourism must be led by the people from each administrative region.
Minister Walrond expressed the revelation and her belief, during fruitful discussions with members of the Regional Tourism Committee and the Bartica Chamber of Commerce in Region Seven, yesterday.
“Government is not saying to you, this is what we want to do in your community. We want the tourism product in each region to be community….to be driven by the region.
“Whether it is construction, labour, managing, or selling products to visitors, we do not want to outsource that. So the engagement at this level, is to say to you, we want you to take control of your tourism product. We want you to develop, and we want you to ultimately benefit from the economic activity,” she said.
The Tourism Minister stressed that there is need for strong public-private partnership for tourism to thrive again.
“We want to be as inclusive as possible. We want everyone, in Region Seven, who has an interest in tourism, to come and to speak to us. We do not want people to be shut out,” she emphasised.
Tourism Minister Walrond (at the head of the table) seen in the meeting with members of Region Seven’s Tourism Committee and the Bartica Chamber of Commerce, yesterday. Photo credit: DPI.
Walrond noted that funds were earmarked in the recently-passed national budget, to help the regions develop their tourism product.
“In our budget, there are plans for the proposal, for the regional committee for each region to support, whether it is in terms of training, capacity-building or developing their proposals, there are budgetary allocations for those activities,” Minister Walrond said.
Approximately $2.7 billion, of the government’s $383.1 billion national budget — recently presented under the theme, “A Path to Recovery, Economic Dynamism and Resilience” — was allocated for the Ministry of Tourism, Industry and Commerce.
She also relayed that three new tourism circuits will be developed, this year, in Moruca, Region One; the Pomeroon, Region Two; and South Rupununi in Region Nine.
Bartica’s Mayor, Gifford Marshall, leads Tourism Minister Walrond on a guided tour of the boardwalk, along the town’s Golden Beach. Photo credit: DPI.
Meanwhile, addressing the Bartica Chamber of Commerce, Minister Walrond stated the budget is geared towards encouraging, promoting and nurturing small businesses.
She added, that this is evident in the measures implemented to create a business-friendly environment.
“It is all geared towards giving a shot in the arm to our economy. We know that businesses are the engine of growth in every thriving and first world economy, and Guyana is no less. So, we consider you important and critical partners in Guyana’s development.”
