[www.inewsguyana.com] – The country’s first Hospitality Institute is currently in its design phase and is expected to be completed within the next month, according to the Government Information Agency (GINA).
The Guyana government had allocated US$4M in the 2014 budget for the institute, however the sum was voted against by the combined parliamentary Opposition.
According to GINA, the curriculum will offer certificate, diploma, associate degree and degree courses in hospitality and is part of the Government’s thrust to build capacity within the tourism sector.
Speaking at a recent press conference, Director of the Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA), Indranauth Haralsingh described this initiative as a major foundation step as the country continues to strive to expand the industry.
“It is a serious investment in training and capacity building on the part of the Government. A variety of courses will be offered; it will have a state-of-the-art kitchen with some hotel rooms… currently the University of Guyana offers a degree programme in tourism. This would be the first institute that will offer hospitality training, there is a vast difference between tourism and hospitality,” Haralsingh said.
He added that the institute will help to further boost and promote the kind of hospitality that Guyana is already known for, and will also be open to accommodate foreign students.
[Extracted and modified from GINA]
