By Fareeza Haniff
[www.inewsguyana.com] – The government has allocated US$4 million for the establishment of Hospitality Institute in Guyana. Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh in his budget presentation on March 24 revealed that this institute will ensure that Guyana produce world class personnel for the Hospitality sector.
The Finance Minister explained that the Institute will be responsible for making Guyana a destination of first choice by the global tourist looking for forest and nature adventure, thereby creating business opportunities in the hospitality sector.
When questioned about this at his press conference on Thursday, March 27, President Donald Ramotar said that the Institute will be a revenue earner for the country.
“It is something to add to our tourism sector and I am confident that it could be added revenue,” the President said.
It was recently revealed that in 2013, visitor arrivals totalled 200,122 reflecting a 13.3 percent increase over 2012, while hotel and hospitality facilities recorded an occupancy rate of approximately 76 percent, relatively unchanged from 2012.
In this regard, Dr Singh had noted that it is important for Guyana to equip its young people with technical vocational education training (TVET) skills linked with entrepreneurship training.
