The Tourism and Hospitality Association of Guyana [THAG] on Friday last held its 25th Annual General Meeting to elect a new Executive Council. At the Cara Lodge, Georgetown event, elected to lead the new Executive in the capacity of President was Mr. Mitra Ramkumar, Chief Financial Officer of Roraima Airways Inc.
THAG President: Mitra Ramkumar
He will be supported by Vice President: Mrs. Camille Boodhoo, Managing Director, Old Fort Tours and Angellina’s Travel Service; Treasurer: Mr. Harrinand Persaud MBA, Chief Financial and Marketing Officer, King’s Jewellery World and Committee Members: Ms. Alexandra Correia, Market Research and Investor Relations Manager, Correia Group of Companies; Ms. Davie Sukdeo, Senior Sales Manager, Guyana Marriott Hotel Georgetown; Mr. Kevin Daby; General Manager, Grand Coastal Hotel; Committee Member : Ms. Jacqueline Allicock, General Manager, Surama Eco-lodge, Surama Village.
Mrs Andrea de Caires, Wilderness Explorers will serve as an advisor to the new Executive in her capacity as Immediate Past President.
Mr Ramkumar, as current president has committed three major areas of focus for the association. These areas are: expanding the membership base of the organization; building partnerships with Oil & Gas and other enterprises to endorse low carbon tourism development and continued working relationship with the Department of Tourism and the Guyana Tourism Authority in building the Tourism Industry.
Mr. Ramkumar noted 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 our environment is protected.”
Tourism, he believes, can bolster environmental protection, champion diverse cultural heritage while being a major foreign exchange earner that creates employment for a wide cross section of Guyanese.
Moreover, THAG will be focusing on being heard as a unified voice representing the interests of the industry stakeholders and working with the Department of Tourism and the Guyana Tourism Authority in finalising and actioning the Draft National Tourism Policy.
THAG also re-appointed Ram and McRae as its Auditors for the new financial year.