HOW TO SELL GUYANA
GUYANA Naturally
BY MARK STRATTON Sell Guyana as an exciting new destination possessing a refreshingly unique twist. This is an English-speaking country on the South American landmass, steeped with Caribbean vibes yet offering an alternative product to traditional sun, sea, and sand. With 80% of Guyana cloaked in pristine Amazonian rainforest, the country is internationally feted because of its commitment to maintaining its rainforests. And because ecotourism forms an essential element to this strategy, it’s important to sell the notion to clients that they are making a contribution to the country’s environmental sustainability. Possessing few beach resorts, Guyana
is tailor-made for small group soft eco- adventures. It boasts good-quality lodges within its rainforested interior offering exciting opportunities for wildlife spotting and cultural exchanges with Amerindian natives. Your key target travellers should be those who have visited Latin America on several occasions or Caribbean old hands seeking something different. They’ll be nature lovers too. With
some 800 species of birds and over 200 mammal species, Guyana personifies an eco-paradise – but it's not cheap. The 30 or so UK companies selling Guyana typically offer two-week group tours at around £3000 per head. There are no direct flights from the UK and flights start around £700-£800 and arrive via Barbados, the USA, or Caribbean Airways’ new service via Trinidad. But the feedback that tour operators
are getting is that clients consider Guyana value for money because of its exclusivity. It’s more expensive than other eco-destinations such as Costa Rica but with around 2500 Britons arriving each year, it receives a fraction of its competitor’s visitor numbers. It’s definitely worth recommending a
day exploring coastal Georgetown upon arrival. Although rundown, the capital possesses a lively Caribbean feel derived from a vibrant Indian and Afro-Caribbean fusion. There is also British colonial
Pictured centre: Guyana's magnificent Kaieteur Falls; Above: the crimson crested woodpecker; Top right: an Amazonian otter
32 June 2012 •
www.sellinglonghaul.com
General Information
From the Frontline: CLAIRE ANTELL
architecture on show, not least the early 19th-century wooden whitewashed St Georges Cathedral. Georgetown’s outstanding hotel, Cara Lodge, is likewise a colonial gem. The country’s never-ending rainforests
stretch far into neighbouring Brazil and Surinam. A recently introduced flight linking Miami to Georgetown and Paramaribo (Surinam) by Surinam Airways is a further inducement to sell twin-centred itineraries, as some UK operators, such as Steppes, are doing. The interior’s top attraction is Kaieteur
Falls, a splendid waterfall tumbling 741ft within its own national park. But with no local accommodation this is a day-trip from Georgetown by light aircraft. Iwokrama Rainforest is a huge
rainforest reserve that entertains visitors with a canopy walkway tour and jaguar encounters. And not to be missed is Karanambu Lodge, the family home of conservationist, Diane McTurk, famed for her work with giant otters. Elsewhere, Guyanese itineraries are
drawn from a tiny pool of eco-lodges. Most visitors stay two or three nights in each on all-inclusive deals that include activities and excursions.
UK representative Wilderness Explorers “UK operators are getting
interested in Guyana with Kuoni and Intrepid announcing new itineraries this year. It’s expensive and adventurous so its clientele is definitely more experienced, affluent travellers aged 40-plus. People are coming for adventure, wildlife, indigenous culture, and birding.”
INDRANAUTH HARALSINGH Director, Guyana Tourism Authority “We hope Caribbean Airways’ new flight starting in June from London via Trinidad will avoid lengthy layovers and bring in more people, particularly for our Visit Guyana in 2013 campaign. The market is growing around 3-4% annually and we're in competition with ecotourism destin- ations such as Belize and Costa Rica.”
Where to book it KUONI – 01306 747008
www.kuoni.co.uk Offers a seven-night Wild Guyana tour visiting Georgetown, Iwokrama, Surama, Rock View and the Kaieteur Falls. The lead-in price is from £4490 per person for seven nights, based on two sharing.
TIME ZONE: GMT -4 hours. VISA: Not required by UK citizens. hEalth: Risk of malaria in certain parts of the interior but Georgetown and the coastal areas are malaria-free. LANGUAGE: Official language is English, often spoken with a creole 'twang'. CurrEnCy: The Guyana Dollar. CLIMATE: Guyana's climate is equatorial: hot but pleasant for most of the year. The heat is tempered by the sea breezes on the coast. The two wet seasons are May-June and December to the end of January. CONTACT: Guyana Tourism Authority E:
info@guyana-tourism.com; See:
www.guyana-tourism.com USEFUL INFO:
www.guyanabirding.com
GUYANA Top Selling Tips...
• Don't miss... “Kaieteur Falls is a Guyana ‘must see’ but remember there is no accommodation here so visitors need to book a day-trip by light aircraft from Georgetown”
• Start selling now... “2013 will be Visit Guyana year so now is the time to start promoting the destination. The new direct flights with Caribbean Airways should really help secure sales”
InDranauth haralSIngh Director, guyana tourism authority
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