An official tour guide containing a wealth of information will be available to the large number of visitors who are expected to flock these shores starting next week for Cricket World Cup.

The handbook entitled Guyana Where & What was launched yesterday at the Ministry of Tourism, Industry and Commerce and the $3 million investment is the brainchild of businesswoman Gem Madhoo-Nascimento.

Since this is the first publication of the handbook, only 10,000 copies were printed, the bulk of which will be at the airport. The rest would be available at the places advertised in the handbook.

Included in the handbook is a map of Georgetown, and lists of hotels, restaurants, boutiques, taxi services, car rentals, jewellery stores and exotic getaways.

According to Madhoo-Nascimento, the idea came about during a visit to Barbados late last year. She said she felt such a handbook was something that Guyana needed. The businesswoman told members of the media that the handbook, which was free, would be printed on an annual basis. If that was not feasible, it would be published every two years.

She said it took less than two weeks to get the book competed. She said she believes this is the best time to introduce the handbook.

According to Madhoo-Nascimento she is disappointed that some of the major business places didn’t advertise in the handbook.

Kit Nascimento, communications consultant stated that this would be a quick reference to our country for tourists. “You would not go to any country and not find one of these,” he said.

Also present at the launching was Indra Anandjit, director of the Guyana Tourism Authority.