Opposition MP urges Govt to build more airstrips in interior

Opposition Member of Parliament Africo Selman has urged the coalition Government to build more airstrips in the hinterland region, so as to create a wider market for international visitors interested in experiencing Guyana’s rich fauna and flora, and advance the eco-tourism drive.
Selman told the National Assembly recently that despite little attention being paid to tourism by the current Government, this sector has the potential to boost the Guyana economy.

“This Administration robbed Guyana of its opportunity to become a top tourism destination by scrapping the Tourism Ministry. What we now have is a Department of Tourism in the Ministry of Business. Both of these areas have vast potential for economic growth, and should not be paired. The rationale for this move will never be understood,” she argued.
While noting the figures quoted in the National Assembly, which show that the growth of tourism is continuing at a steady pace, with visitor arrivals totalling 170,322 between January and September, a 5.7 percent increase over the same period in 2016, she described it as “total deception”.
“Returning Guyanese are not tourists. That is the part that was left out. How many of these arrivals are Guyanese? What statistics does this administration have to convince us that all these visitors, when they come, visit historical sites?” the Opposition MP questioned the Government.
Selman noted that while a majority of the tourist sites are located in the hinterland, people can get there by boat, road or plane. However, she suggested that Government invest in building proper roads close to these sites, building more and better airstrips, and even creating resorts.
In his presentation to the National Assembly, Finance Minister Winston Jordan said several key hinterland roads would be upgraded to facilitate gold miners and loggers, but there was no talk about improving the road network to benefit tourists.
“The state of bridges in the hinterland is another downside to tourism. Which tourist would be comfortable driving across an unstable wooden bridge with no guard rails? None! People want to see our wildlife, our birds, our flora and fauna,” she added.
According to the Opposition MP, one of the biggest obstacles to tourism in Guyana is the state of the roads. She noted that when it rains, many of the roads in the interior are impassible.
“The tourist from London, the tourist from Canada, the tourist from Australia does not want to be in a small plane flying from one place to the next. He wants to be on the road seeing and experiencing nature, virgin terrain. That is how we sell our tourism product,” she opined.
Another huge obstacle to tourism is security, Selman added. “It is well known that we have a lawless interior fuelled by the rough terrain and lack of an adequate fleet of security personnel. I would suggest that the Ministry of Public Security and the Department of Tourism work together to formulate a comprehensive plan to treat with these issues. The Guyana Police Force, first of all, must be brought up to strength. The availability of ranks and resources is of paramount importance to ensure that tourists are safe and they feel safe. Security officials accompanying tourists to far-flung destinations should be taken into consideration,” she further suggested.
Apart from that, Selman said that, in an effort to have a sound tourism development plan which prioritises regular, safe, and affordable airlift to Guyana, Government would have to start looking at ways to improve collaboration with, and improve receipt of assistance from, private sector companies here.
“Expanding the international airport without adequate, reliable and affordable airlift to encourage the Guyanese diaspora and tourists interested in our tourism product to visit Guyana will be a lost opportunity for this nation. I urge this Government to spend some time focusing on securing adequate, reliable, and affordable airlift services to this country,” she added.