Former Bahamian Prime Minister Perry Christie believes tourism could be Guyana’s best export, but the country must believe this and commit the resources to making it happen.
His comments came at a dinner on Friday evening organised by the Rotary Club of Georgetown in observance of World Understanding Month, celebrated in February each year by Rotarians around the world.
Christie, delivering the guest speaker address to the gathering of representatives of the local and overseas chapters of the organization, lauded the work of the Rotary Club. He said its example could be used in every aspect of Caribbean affairs where everyone could understand that challenges are inherent in differences and so it is necessary for them to be overcome.
This observation came against the background that the organisation brings together persons of different ethnicities and nationalities and encourages the ideal of service as a basis of worthy enterprise.
However, the highlight of his interest-grabbing presentation centred on tourism and the need for the industry to receive more attention from regional governments since it has proven to be as resilient as any other in the region.
He acknowledged Guyana’s agriculture-based economy and its mineral wealth but urged, “whatever those opportunities are, never forget that there is no industry in the world growing as fast as the tourism industry.
“I have come here to say that tourism is an incredible opportunity for Guyana but not if you will compare it to the Bahamas, or the high cost of travel
