Dear Editor,

Mr Chumandat Persaud, please make me an exception in concluding that Ms Maureen Paul, the former head of the Tourism and Hospitality Association of Guyana has a vendetta against the tourism sector (‘Guyana’s Tourism Sector is now developing,’ GC 23.9.08).

Guyana will definitely continue to be one of the most extraordinary eco-tourism destinations in this part of the globe; I will forever continue my advocacy privately for this sector via tourism literature, but the fact remains that it’s getting harder to convince potential visitors to head this way, and the local issues which are very obvious to the eye are contributing to the ratings continuing to slide. I have always maintained that image and transformation along with spending money to make money are vital components towards improvement and success. China is one good example from what I have seen during the 2008 Olympics.

Travel advisories on the other hand, are a major factor, and I do respect the fact that countries have the right to protect their citizens from getting in harm’s way. Not so long ago I read that a Canadian citizen was robbed, and just recently a US Peace Corps Volunteer was attacked in the city and again, these are issues that will be considered when advisories are contemplated.

It is my belief that Mr Chumandat Persaud’s source of information misinformed him terribly. From which part of the globe were thousands scrambling to get into Guyana during the just concluded regional festival?

Yours faithfully,
T Pemberton