Wedding Expo 2018 a tool for innovation- Tourism Director- General

March 24, 2018

DPI, Guyana, Friday, March 23, 2018

“What we need is innovation to make our products attractive; innovative ways that can make the Expo and Guyana grow.”

Exhibitor beside her booth.

This was the view posited by the Ministry of Tourism’s, Director-General Donald Sinclair at the tenth edition of the Roraima Duke Lodge’s Wedding Expo. Sinclair was among several key speakers at the show’s opening, last evening.

The Director-General also highlighted the need for amendment to legislation to ensure products are attractive to potential clients. “…more importantly we need a change in legislation because in Guyana persons need to be in the country for two weeks before they can get married. Therefore, when it comes to Guyana being promoted as a tourism wedding destination, this cannot be the case.”

Sinclair assured the Expo will continue to have the support of the Tourism Ministry.

Exhibitor attending to a customer.

Resident Representative of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), Sophie Makonnen, noted that the event is one that helps to foster development in the country by greatly assisting small businesses that are vital to the economy.

She stated, “This is good for social and economic development, it’s a great initiative. The Wedding Expo is important for micro and medium businesses since it has been consistent and consistency is a part of success. I’m happy that this is happening because we have the opportunity to foster development because we are aware that it is harder in Guyana to establish a small business than say in Jamaica for example.”

With about 40 exhibitors in addition to a wedding ceremony and the reception of the winning couple in this year’s “Race to the Altar”, the Expo, runs from March 23-25 and gives Guyanese businesses the opportunity to showcase their products and services for weddings. These include wedding planners, shipping agencies, jewellers, cake decorators, photographers and other services.