"Oh! this place is wonderful, the enormous vegetation, your diverse cultures and the uninterrupted forest make Guyana totally different from my country and anything that is different from what I am accustomed to is attractive to me", were the remarks of one of the 118 tourists on board the MV Clipper Adventurer anchored in the Essequibo River currently.

The general feeling from the tourists yesterday was one of satisfaction and enjoyment. "Right now I am relishing this break from my home and work, Guyana is certainly a beautiful place and I would like to come again", one tourist said. The travellers, mainly Americans with a few Europeans, flew from Miami to Brazil where they boarded the vessel at Belem en route to South America. The journey is expected to last for 14 days.

Speaking with Stabroek News yesterday at Baganara Resort, Felix Hagmann, 48, of Zurich, Switzerland expressed elation at his first visit to Guyana. Hagmann, an Electrical Engineer, is the youngest member of the touring party and works with the German Company Siemens. Hagmann said he found Guyana's landscape to be one of the best he had ever seen. According to him, while travelling in the ship, before it got stuck on a sand bank (see story on page 5), he used the ship's boat to full advantage and checked out the ridges and vegetation on the shore. He was impressed by the wide Essequibo River. "Your river is very large and it looks good from above, this is definitely one thing that stands out in Guyana".

The man maintained that he would like to come again, noting the uniqueness of Guyana's tourism product.

Leader of the expedition, Mike Messick told this newspaper that the three-day visit to Guyana was aimed at letting the tourists have a taste of what the countries have to offer. Messick, though he did not find the water attractive to swim in, emphasised the vastness of the Essequibo River. According to Messick he was tremendously touched by the scenery at Kaieteur Falls. "Your falls is spectacular, the scenery is certainly wonderful. I am sure that one day that falls would become an international site".

He noted that the travellers are being guided by tour guides provided by Evergreen Adventures and they have been cooperating fully with the instructors. He also commended the authorities at Evergreen Adventures noting that they have certainly done all that was humanly possible in ensuring the trip was pleasant. Speaking directly to the question of whether the vessel would return to Guyana, Messick said that they have had to deal with a few navigation problems which they did not bargain for on the trip. There was not only Tuesday's mishap in the Essequibo River but while coming to Guyana they had problems with mud and sand banks. He said that even though he is anxious to return, from a point of view of the ship's authorities the navigation problems would have to addressed.

Another tourist, Ann Royer, speaking about her stay so far described Guyana as a paradise. "This country is very beautiful, what impressed me most was the flight over the falls, it is amazing to see the vast uninterrupted forest, I have never seen so any flowers at one time with so many colours and different shapes", Royer said. "Yes I would like to come again and hopefully for a longer time, you people are very friendly and there is so much to offer", she added.

Buz Nason who resides in Arizona, USA, declared he was overwhelmed with the wonderful infrastructure at the Baganara Resort. He said that Guyana as a tourist destination is worth promoting in the USA, noting the beauty of the Kaieteur Falls. "Your falls is world class and promotable", he enthused. (Nigel Williams)