Guyana maps role for Caribbean Rum Route
DPI, Guyana, Thursday, July 05, 2018
The Ministry of Business, Department of Tourism along with the Caribbean Tourism Organisation (CTO) today hosted a Rum Route Forum with stakeholders at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC).
Participating member countries were invited to design a tourist itinerary that would tell the story of rum, in order to give visitors to the Caribbean a fresh insight into the social, cultural and historical facets of the production of rum.
[In the photo, first row] Director of Guyana Tourism Authority, Brian Mullis, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Secretary-General of the CTO, Hugh Riley, Minister of Business with responsibility for Tourism, Director General of Department of Tourism, Donald Sinclair, President of Tourism and Hospitality Association (THAG), Mitra Ramkumar pose with stakeholders at the Guyana Rum Route Forum.
The Caribbean rum route initiative will benefit people at all levels, according to Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Secretary General of the CTO, Hugh Riley.
“We provide through the Caribbean Rum Route opportunity for people at all levels of the industry involved and most especially for people who are at the destination ends to understand the powerful magnet we have to draw people here and then we can find opportunities to engage their attention.”
The CTO is collaborating with several international organisations to fund the project.
Minister of Business with the responsibility for Tourism, Dominic Gaskin lauded the initiative since he believes it is an exciting way of showcasing an aspect of Guyana’s heritage. “This is our story and we need to share that story because that story has a value and we need to find a way to share and depict it. I think we need co-operation if we want to develop a rum route in Guyana. It is not something one party or one stakeholder can do.”
The flagship Rum Route initiative by the CTO was launched in 2017 to integrate various activities and interactions related to rum within the Caribbean tourism experience.
A wide range of local stakeholders attended the event. These included tour operators, rum shop owners, distillery staff and factory representatives, students and researchers.
By: Crystal Stoll.
Image: Rabindra Rooplall.