Mitra Ramkumar elected head of Tourism and Hospitality Association

Mitra Ramkumar was elected as the new President of The Tourism and Hospitality Association of Guyana (THAG) at its 25th Annual General Meeting which was held last Friday at the Cara Lodge, Georgetown.

Ramkumar, the Chief Financial Officer of Roraima Airways, has committed the association to three major areas of focus, according to a press release from THAG. These areas are: expanding the membership base of the organisation, building partnerships with Oil and Gas and other enterprises to endorse low carbon tourism development, and the continued working relationship with the Department of Tourism and the Guyana Tourism Authority in building the Tourism Industry.

The new president said, in the THAG statement, that Guyana is poised to become an economic powerhouse with revenues from the Oil and Gas sector.

However, this is an extractive industry and Guyana has the opportunity to strike a perfect balance that will assure the environment is protected. Tourism can bolster environmental protection, champion diverse cultural heritage while being a major foreign exchange earner while creating employment for a wide cross-section of Guyanese.

THAG will focus on being a representative of the interests of the industry stakeholders and working with the Department of Tourism and the Guyana Tourism Authority in finalising the Draft National Tourism Policy, the release said. Other members elected to the 2018/2019 THAG Executive, include Vice President, Camille Boodhoo of Old Fort Tours & Angellina’s Travel Service and Treasurer, Harrinand Persaud of King’s Jewellery World.

The Committee Members are Alexandra Correia of Correia Group of Companies, Davie Sukdeo of Guyana Marriott Hotel, Kevin Daby of Grand Coastal Hotel and Jacqueline Allicock of Surama Eco-lodge. Andrea de Caires of Wilderness Explorers will serve as an advisor in her capacity as Immediate Past President.