CJIA expansion, Marriott Hotel will significantly boost tourism

By Kristen MacKlinga

Guyana’s tourism sector is expected to be boosted significantly with the expansion of the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) and the establishment of the Marriott Hotel, Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA) Director Indranauth Haralsingh said.

In a recent interview with Guyana Times International he said both projects have the potential to transform the country into a modernised and more developed nation.
“Both of these will be able to first of all stimulate Guyana’s economy simultaneously creating a lot of job opportunities and employment. It will help to generate a lot of revenue and taxes as well. Most of all, it would improve and increase Guyana’s capacity and ability to attract more tourists, for instance an expanded airport might be the best in the Caribbean,” said Haralsingh.
He emphasised that the scale and size of the CJIA after expansion works will serve to facilitate easy travel while catering for the accommodation of larger and more aircrafts.
This, he said, will also have a direct impact on the visitor arrival numbers at the airport, and in turn would create more jobs for locals while bringing in major benefits to the economy.
This publication was told that an expanded airport of the scale and magnitude that government is planning for the CJIA is coming at an opportune time where nationals of other countries will be given the opportunity of frequenting Guyana for whatever purpose.
“It will serve as an in-transit route for flights going to Africa as well as it can also help as a hub for flights going elsewhere to South America. It has the potential of expanding the country’s economy, of growing tourism tremendously. It is a relevant investment by government and will attract major carriers which will ensure that the benefits will be significant to improving commerce here,” he posited.
Haralsingh noted that the establishment of the Marriott Hotel will also boost the number of high class visitors in the country and said that a majority of persons who travel are accustomed to the type of services offered by the international branded hotels.
“A brand name hotel is what guests ask for when we go to international trade fairs, people want to know. Visitors are so savvy and demanding that they expect to have good facilities, to be satisfied and expect four and five star hotels with excellent service and high quality. When they travel they are accustomed to the Marriott and others so, this is a welcome addition to Guyana.”
With the introduction of the Marriott hotel, it is expected that a number of persons from the “high class market” visit Guyana frequently, and this will result in more revenue being brought into the country.
He noted that such a hotel will comfort guests in knowing that Guyana offers reliable, consistent and satisfactory services for visitors and the elite crowds.
The GTA director added that such investments by the administration will definitely stimulate the Guyanese economy and both initiatives should be considered as “strategic” for the country.
Government has said that the US$ 51 million Marriott Hotel will help to fill the current gap that exists in the hospitality industry in Guyana, noting also that as the economy grows, there will be greater demands for more in that sector.
In June, President Donald Ramotar had assured that the opening of a Marriott Hotel would not run local hoteliers out of business, but would give local hotels the opportunity to lift their standards, thereby raising the level of competition.
“I want to assure all of you that the Marriott Hotel project is not going to put anyone out of business. The government is not into the business of pressuring any company into liquidation and I want to assure that those that feel threatened by our plans to build this hotel, that their fears are misplaced,” the president had stated.
The construction of the hotel is to commence next year, and once completed, it will have 160 rooms along with a 75,000 square foot entertainment complex. That complex will be furnished with modern conveniences and amenities, including a casino, restaurants and a night club. Currently, only the Princess Hotel can operate a casino.
The Marriott has chains in 72 countries with more than 3600 hotels globally.