GEORGETOWN, Guyana -- Guyana’s Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, Manniram Prashad, is insisting that the South American nation will meet the International Cricket Council’s accommodation and other requirements for the hosting of the 2007 Cricket World Cup.
“Definitely we are ready, to be exact we expect about 37,000 people during the period March to April and there are a lot of things happening in terms of readiness for world cup and the influx of visitors,” Prashad said this week.
Originally Guyana was required to have over 800 rooms built but that has reduced to 430, according to Minister Prashad. He added that with the Buddy’s International Hotel under construction Guyana would have the required accommodation for visitors during the matches next year.
“With Buddy’s International we are ready. In fact by rating we are in the green, green means we are above average in preparedness,” the minister said, adding that according to all indication the Buddy’s International hotel will be ready to accommodate visitors to Guyana by January.
With reference to Bed and Breakfast facilities, he said 800 are available and that number is expected to be doubled early nest year and added consideration is being given to tent cities and a trailer park at the National Park.
The minister also revealed that work is being done to upgrade accommodation facilities at both Kaieteur and Orinduk Falls.
It is hoped that through the hosting of CWC 2007, the tourism industry will move a step further in promoting Guyana as ‘the place to visit’ in South America and the Caribbean, Prashad said.
