BERBICE – International and domestic tourism are creating demand for accommodation Minister of Business Dominic Gaskin noted on Thursday, at the grand opening of the Classic International Hotel and Suites at Number 79 Village, Corriverton, Corentyne, Berbice.
“So we will need hotel rooms for people because that growth is set to continue and not everyone wants to stay in Georgetown,” Gaskin said.
He explained the tourism sector presents viable investment options locally and noted Berbice was important because it has “made significant contributions to Guyana’s economic development”.
Yet there will be challenges.
“We try to kick start an industry that we have not traditionally prioritised as yet. We have not as yet integrated ourselves into the international tourism industry in a way that puts us on the map as a serious tourism destination. Therefore we find ourselves without that strategic link between the markets and the airlines, and the accommodation, and the activities that other competing destinations have long since established.”
He urged people to raise the level of awareness in Guyana for the benefits of tourism and its potential for job creation and revenue generation.
The minister also spoke about the need for a clean and green environment to promote the industry.
“We can kill the industry before it even takes off, if we continue to dump our garbage on our roadsides.”
The Minister congratulated the owner of the Classic International Hotel and Suites, Haresh Narine Sugrim aka ‘Chiney’, for “stepping up to the plate and boosting this town, to accommodate its visitors with this spanking new facility”.
The construction of the hotel began in December 2014. It is a four story building which has four presidential suits, twenty eight luxurious rooms, a restaurant, large swimming pool, poolside bar, spacious parking areas and faces the scenic Corentyne River and Suriname.
There are future plans to have a 250 KVA wind turbine electrical system installed, a casino and two yachts for tourists to visit the Corentyne River.
The Hotel’s owner, originally from Crabwood Creek, invested G$1B into the hotel. He is confident the hotel will thrive under this administration.
In 2016, Guyana’s tourism sector recorded the third highest rate of growth out of the 28 Caribbean countries according to the Caribbean Trade Organisation. The country recorded a 12.7 per cent increase in visitor arrivals. This was nearly 30 000 more visitors than 2015. (GINA)
