Dear Editor,

I wish to commend your newspaper for publishing the article captioned ‘The new tourism market is becoming more segmented’ by David Jessop in the ‘View from Europe’ on Sunday, February 15, 2009.

I would like to place emphasis on the statements at the end of paragraph 8: “how the region might extend its industry in ways that are new and to note the need to add value to the existing product through facilities and attractions that encourage more higher end visitors.” I sincerely hope that all the tour operators in Guyana could read this article as it deals directly with the changing face of eco-tourism in this part of the world.

From its inception the idea of eco-tourism in Guyana was like opening a can of good worms, so to speak. Guyana (just like Costa Rica and Brazil) is full and overflowing with beauty spots in the hinterland, and these areas need to be inspected and developed by tour companies which would indeed encourage more “higher end visitors” to Guyana’s fledgling industry.

Once again, congrats to your newspaper for publishing this timely article which, I’m sure is destined to open the eyes and minds of Guyana’s tour operators.

Yours faithfully,
Jim Holder aka ‘Jungle Jim’