Q & A with Eduardo SaavedraExecutive Director of Venezuela´s INATUR
by Jose Carlos de Santiago
Venezuela has not only founded a tourism ministry and mapped out a new travel strategy, but it has also created a number of institutions that are literally out there promoting the attractions this amazing country has to offer and lure an increasing amount of trippers. INATUR is one good case in point as the entity´s Executive Director put it in this exclusive interview with Caribbean News Digital.
Q.- To the best of our understanding, CONVIASA, the new airline, is about to open offices in Madrid and Frankfurt. What´s going to be the name of CONVIASA´s new marketing branch?
A.- VENETUR is going to be that marketing branch you´re talking about and it´s going to deal with both domestic and international products. For us, the goal in 2006 is going to be the opening of four new offices around the world, in Frankfurt, Madrid, Buenos Aires and Bogota. The ones in Europe, I mean Madrid and Frankfurt, will have to do with CONVIASA, the country´s flagship carrier, and they must be ready to go by the first quarter of the ongoing year.
Q.- Will you start flying to Frankfurt and Madrid?
A.- We´re going to fly first to Madrid, because that´s part of the contract signed with the Tourism Ministry. I must say negotiations are underway with the Airbus people.
Q.- Will you use Airbus 340s or Airbus 320s?
A.- We don´t know yet because all negotiations have been conducted by our Tourism Minister and no word has gone out as to what kind of jetliner we´ll use. All I can say is that we´re making headway as far as conversations are concerned.
Q.- Venezuela is sketching out a new opening strategy to the world. What´s the difference then between MINTUR and INATUR?
A.- MINTUR is Venezuela´s Tourism Ministry, while INATUR is a branch of that Ministry. When we attend fairs and tradeshows overseas, we introduce ourselves as MINTUR. We use either name for domestic purposes. That´s the main difference.
Q.- Let´s change the subject. I´d like to know how much progress you´ve made concerning the new airport being built in Maiquetia.
A.- In the case of the Maiquetia airport, the arrival and departure areas were remodeled and redistributed within the facility. Those arrivals and departures are now hassle-free and brisker, so to speak. A new hotel was built there, too. That´s a project that got kind of bogged down in the past, but we´re moving ahead with it now. I believe the hotel, the nearby casino and the whole airport will be ready by late 2006 or early 2007.
Q.- And what about baggage handling and stuff like that?
A.- That´s all brand new. The conveyer belts are all new, so they will make the whole baggage handling process much faster now.
Q.- Have you beefed up security? Is the airport a safer place now?
A.- Oh, yes. We´ve tightened security inside the terminal. Many things will go changing along the way. We´re even going to paint a brighter picture of Venezuela than the one we´re getting right now, I mean, some media organizations label Venezuela as an insecure and unsafe country. So, we have to go the extra mile in trying to explain to visitors that this is not the case at all.
Q.- In the case of international publicity, how is INATUR planning to get this show on the road?
A.- Well, all I can say is that INATUR is the one organization dealing with promotion and publicity, both in and out of the country. We inked an agreement with the CONSER GROUP in Germany and we´re looking for someone to help us put Venezuela on the map in Europe. A new ad blitz is on its way, not only with the opening of CONVIASA, but also because we believe it´s in our best interest to draw far more visitors to Venezuela to know and see what this country is actually all about.
