Tourism Association not happy with transfer of Tourism portfolio from Hughes.

In a statement on Thursday, the group said that it is "astonished, disappointed and frustrated" at yet another adjustment to the tourism portfolio.

Tourism Association not happy with transfer of Tourism portfolio from Hughes.

The Tourism and Hospitality Association of Guyana (THAG) has rejected the government’s decision to transfer the Tourism portfolio from Minister Cathy Hughes and the Public Telecommunications Ministry to the Ministry of Business.

In a statement on Thursday, the group said that it is “astonished, disappointed and frustrated” at yet another adjustment to the tourism portfolio.

The Association said it finds no fault in Minister Gaskin but would rather have a “stand alone” Minister to run the sector.

“If the current Minister of Public Communication, with a strong background in and understanding of the industry, is too busy to address the needs of the industry, how could an equally demanding portfolio of the Minister of Business be able to devote attention to the Tourism Sector?” the Association questioned.

“At the commencement of the new government’s term in office, the Association welcomed the identification of Mrs Catherine Hughes as a standalone Minister of Tourism; however this portfolio has been drastically diluted over the last twelve months to the proposed move being presented,” the statement further added.

THAG reaffirmed that it is critical to the industry’s development to have a Minister who has the time to focus on the sector’s development, understands the needs of the industry and auxiliary sectors.

“We only wish that the Tourism Industry would be afforded a level of serious commitment and appointed a standalone Minister… we do hope that this restructuring is given further consideration and in the process the needs of the sector would be afforded greater consideration in the plan for the way forward.”

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