The Ministry of Tourism is rolling out a ‘Bed and Breakfast’ programme to help ordinary Guyanese upgrade their homes to host visitors entering Guyana for the 50th Anniversary celebrations.

Persons who may have spare rooms in their homes that they could make available are being encouraged to enroll in the B&B programme.

Through the programme, the Ministry intends to train scores of Guyanese and help them to bring their homes up to standard for the activities in May.

Persons who may also have an upper or lower flat for rental are also being encouraged to sign up to reap the benefits of the national ‘Bed and Breakfast’ programme.

Thousands of Guyanese who live overseas along with their families and friends are expected to travel to Guyana f to take part in the golden jubilee celebrations.

According to Tourism Minister, Catherine Hughes there must be adequate good, clean accommodations available.

She said her Ministry is also working with small hotels to offer hospitality training.

“Most of the key hotels in the Georgetown area have been booked up for the Month of May… The Ministry has engaged some of the smaller hotels and we are working with them to improve their standards,” she added.

Meanwhile, Director General at the Ministry of Tourism, Donald Sinclair, also explained that with the large number of visitors expected in Guyana, a challenge for the accommodation sector was emerging. “We are looking at the sustainability of the B&B, not just when there is a particular year when we are expecting large number of visitors,” he added.

Sinclair told reporters that some visitors also prefer the homeliness of a bed and breakfast package as opposed to a hotel.

The Ministry will be drawing from the 2007 World Cup experience and others to make this programme a success. Persons interested are asked to contact the Ministry at its Colgrain House location on Camp Street, Georgetown.