Guyana is to be featured on BBC World and in Tatler, the Government Information Agency (GINA) reported.
A British international travel writer, Michelle Jana Chan was recently here to compile an article for Tatler magazine’s travel section and film a mini-documentary on the country for the BBC World.
The writer was commissioned by Steppes Travel to write for the prestigious Tatler magazine which only features one country per month. For the BBC, she will be creating a travel log of the three Guianas: Guyana, Suriname and French Guiana.
Chan, GINA said, after spending 10 days in Guyana exploring its wilderness and culture, briefed the media last Thursday on her trip.
She stated that it was her intention to come to the country to try and “introduce it to the world,” and this is her second trip to Guyana. Chan praised the work being done to encourage tourists to the country, GINA said.
It quoted her as saying that, “I knew there was potential as I wrote a story before on the country… It’s still a new destination and for some people they are hearing it for the first time… a lot of these stories are introducing people to Guyana.”
She said that in her first article she tried to create a portrait of the nation and in her present article she will be focusing on people who represent and love the country as she hopes to focus on a tour through Guyana.
Chan praised the country’s product, and said, “Guyana does community tourism well, it adds a unique touch which makes it special… what I love is the rawness of going to Kaieteur and there not being railings, security guards and shops. It gives a pioneering feeling of being the first one to stumble upon it.”
Meanwhile, Director of the Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA), Indranauth Haralsingh said that this will add to the international recognition that Guyana is receiving. He added that it will help in promoting the country’s image as a tourism destination.
“There are still people who do not know us as a country so it will help to promote destination Guyana, to brand Guyana and get the name out and in her article she will be talking about the Guyana experience”.
He was also optimistic that the documentary will complement the recent version done by the BBC, “The lost land of the jaguar”, which has proven very beneficial for Guyana by raising its profile in the United Kingdom.
Additionally, the GTA plans to continue bringing more travel writers, familiarization and press trips to the country since these have been proving very successful and cost effective, GINA added.
Guyana has come late to the party, I am sorry to say.
A standard travel guide here in the UK makes NO MENTION AT ALL about Guyana.
To add insult to injury: Under the title ECO-TOURISM/BIO DIVERSITY, ‘Tourist-mad’ TOBAGO is listed as:
1 Tobago has won several eco awards including BEST ECO DESTINATION IN THE WORLD and CARIBBEAN TRAVEL AWARDS COMMITTEE NO1 ECO-DESTINATION.
2 Tobago is home to over 6000 species of plants and animals, including one of the highest densities of bird species in the world.
It seems to me that Guyana has lost the ECO-TOURISM TROPHY to its more nimble WI neighbours and therefore runs the risk of never able to catch up.
Quote: “Indranauth Haralsingh said that this will add to the international recognition that Guyana is receiving.” That is quite a mouthful, but is it true?
I sincerely hope we have some unbiased news about the rich resources including its hardworking people. So many have heard about the corruption,drugs and murderous exploits of Roger Khan,his associates and his sponsors. I am sure news of the core of underachieving leaders(a major reason for our social and economic woes) is already out there.
Let us hope this window of publicity showcases these resources and attract visitors and new investments to Guyana in a way that will help our young people to throw off the envelop of fear and gloom that been about for the most part of the past ten years.
Don’t forget security for the tourists.
Good move in the right direction, better late than never.
WHY DO THE GUYANA GOVERNMENT HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL SOMEONE FROM THE PRSTEGIOUS BBC TO COME AND SHOWCASE GUYANA TO THE WORLD? HEY IS’NT THIS THE GOVERNMENT JOB?
Along with the Gems of Guyana, don’t be surprise if this BBC programme also shows a lot more of the negative side of the country. Recently I’ve sat in on a lecture on Jamaica , from a mostly Euro-American point of view. I found many remarks distasteful,especially after visiting Jamaica immediately after the lecture.
did she go to the gully-side,,,WELL THIS GOV: CANT SECURE ITS OWN PEOPLE ,HOW IS IT THEY GOING TO DO THAT FOR TOURIST
Guyana tourism has been receiving much positive press and other accolades. Check out http://www.guyanabirding.com/trellis/Birding_News to see the numerous stories, press releases and newsletters providing more details.
yea u rite there . bbc allways show the bad side of the people .an its a third world cuntry that will make it more worst.lot of people dont even know about guyana .hairing for the frist time will put them off. the gov is trying his best. but u out there.what is like