Tourism Guyana 2022/23 | Page 15

From a business standpoint , there is nothing inherently wrong with copying the carnival format . Antigua , Barbados , Jamaica and The Bahamas have all done it with success . Also , in some way , every modern festival is a derivative . Nonetheless , the organisers must treat Cricket Carnival like a stage , and the event ’ s success depends on how well the organisers place Guyana ’ s culture on that stage .
A multicultural society like Guyana has much to display on such a stage , and the proposed line-up of events appears to be a perfect stage to showcase Guyana ’ s diversity .
Diverse events fill the Cricket Carnival calendar from September 16 to October 2 . Sporting events like the President ’ s Cup Horse Race ( September 18 ) are part of the build-up to Guyana ’ s first round of CPL games .
The Pan , Jazz , Art , and Fashion Show ( September 18 ) is a good option for those more interested in local and regional culture . The cultural theme appears well supported by the calendar of events , which boasts different nights dedicated to Indigenous culture , steel pan , and chutney music . The Carnival Committee also focused on regional integration by including a three-day regional food festival ( September 23-25 ) and a Regional Monarch show ( September 29 ). The International Concert ( October 1 ) and the Road Parade ( October 2 ) will be the crescendo of the celebrations following the main event , the CPL Final .
Previous editions of the Guyana Carnival lacked an excellent draw to funnel regional and international tourists to the country . Pairing Cricket Carnival 2022 with the CPL bodes well for the event ’ s success in attracting tourists . What better draw for a sport-themed party than “ the biggest party in sport ”?
I think that the public should approach Cricket Carnival with cautious optimism . Expectations should be moderate , given this year ’ s festival is an ambitious deviation from previous editions . Fortunately , hosting the CPL Finals gives an excellent opportunity to judge the festival ’ s success . The organisers have three chances , three strikes , each year an opportunity to improve on the last .
Objective measures will help the organisers gauge the economic impact of the Cricket Carnival . Data collection should start with the number of international tourist arrivals , complemented by studying the event ’ s economic impact . Rome was neither built in a day nor made without a plan . Hence , good data will help the planning of future editions .
Cricket carnival will face some complaints about nudity , noise , and culturally shallow costumes . However , we should remember that Cricket Carnival 2022 is patently a commercial event despite the cultural branding . Still , the event could become a cultural staple if the displays are vibrant , meaningful and authentic as it should be .
TOURISM GUYANA 2022 | 13