As Guyana and Barbados embark on a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that will see the twinning of the two Caribbean countries as a joint tourism destination, countries in the region are being urged to emulate the move to promote the Caribbean as a vibrant tourist destination.
The terms of the MoU are currently being discussed and are expect to be signed sometime in December. This is according to acting Tourism Minister Irfaan Ali, who was at the time speaking at the 2014 Tourism Awards Ceremony on Friday evening at the Guyana International Conference Centre, Liliendaal, Greater Georgetown.
Barbados’ Tourism Minister Richard Sealy was the guest speaker at the event.
The MoU will facilitate a joint marketing strategy for the two countries as a single tourism destination. It is expected to bring benefits to the local tourism sector as well as tourism in Barbados.
“This is an excellent move of twinning Guyana and Barbados as a common destination in the region. You can have tourists who can get the best eco-tourism and still enjoy the sun and the sea in one package,” Minister Ali noted.
He pointed out that this is the direction in which tourism is progressing and decisions such as these need to be taken in order to remain competitive and maintain a share in the tourism market.
The Minister remarked that every country in the region has something unique to offer and when they compete with the world, they should do so as a single destination.
“The region is competing with the world and for us to be successful; we have to pool our talents and resources together. We are too small in the region to ever believe that we can compete out there,” he noted.
According to Ali, through the Caribbean Tourism Authority (CTO), the Caribbean can create better tourism packages because of the diverse products each country will bring to the table. He added that the future calls for collaboration, corporation and cohesion and that is where the region is heading.
Barbados’ Tourism Minister Richard Sealy, who is also the Chairman of the CTO, endorsed the sentiments expressed by Minister Ali.
Sealy pointed out that with increased annual tourism figures worldwide; this provides an abundance of opportunities to diversify the region’s tourism products.
The United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UN WTO) reported that in 2013, the Asian Pacific region record its strongest growth with six per cent increase in arrivals with the European and African region following with five per cent increase.
However, in this part of the world, North, South and Central Americas and the Caribbean, recorded a three per cent increase of arrivals. This, he stated, reflects the importance of collaborations among countries in the region to find solutions to sustain the sector.
“The region is facing serious competition. Every part of the planet is into tourism…. Everyone is into tourism… places you associate with civil war and strife is there wooing tourism business and attracting investments,” he outlined.
On a lighter note, the Barbadian Minister highlighted that the UN WTO reported in 2014 that between January and August, international tourism arrivals was recorded at 781 million, 36 million more than the same period in 2013. However, the Americas are in the lead with an eight per cent growth during those first eight months of this year.
Additionally, he disclosed that the Caribbean saw a four per cent increase in arrivals between January and September this year. As it relates to Guyana, there is a very healthy increase of 7.4 per cent, which is more than the Caribbean growth rate.
Sealy lauded the efforts of the Government in promoting its tourism sector.
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