The headline performers for Guyana were Poonam Singh , Samuel Medas , Tennicia De Freitas , Gavin Mendonca and spoken-word poet Daniela Aravjo . Other artists and dancers supported them . Local designer Randy Madray colourfully arrayed all performers in his creations . Their performances ( available on the Ministry of Culture , Youth and Sport Facebook Page ) entertained the crowd and generally received positive reviews .
Unfortunately , there are no objective measures for the success of the Guyana pavilion in attracting visitors to Guyana . However , if we view the pavilion as a place where Guyana made thousands of first impressions , the best way to measure success would be to turn inward and look at the tourism sector in Guyana . After all , the most lasting impression in tourism is seldom the first . Magazine photos may move tourists or even the videos on their screens , but the experiences on the ground are what tourists remember about a destination . It ’ s like the first in-person meeting with someone you met online .
Therefore , for any observer , assessing the impact of Expo 2020 Dubai becomes a matter of image vs identity . Guyana marketed itself as a business-friendly , multicultural paradise that happens to be the number one eco-tourism destination in the world . Does Guyana live up to that image ? If this were a test , I would give Guyana a passing grade . Undoubtedly , a first-time tourist would come and discover a vibrantly multicultural Guyana with a bounty of refreshing options for nature-based experiences .
Tourism Guyana ’ s Ricardo at Expo 2020 Dubai with a representative of the Guyana Tourism Authority
However , things are far from perfect locally . Significant events on the 2022 calendar , like the Caribbean Premier League and Cricket Carnival , will test the country ’ s accommodation capacity . Additionally , the government ’ s push to increase Guyana ’ s visibility and access to new markets will invariably result in greater demand .
Therefore , the industry must grow and develop to meet the new demand and fulfil the expectations created at events like Expo 2020
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