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Guyana <strong>of</strong>fers an interesting example. More than 40 percent <strong>of</strong> Guyanesewho send remittances visit the home country at least once a year. Thisnumber represents a potentially lucrative and relatively untapped market.Guyanese immigrants visiting their home country spend on average $1,000a stay. This adds up to at least $25 million left in the country. Thus, thecontributions to the economy <strong>of</strong> home visits add significantly to that <strong>of</strong> theirremittances, which are estimated at over $100 million (Orozco 2004b).8. TelecommunicationsTelephone calls are another fundamental aspect <strong>of</strong> the connectivity thataffects the countries’ economies. Immigrants make around 120 minutes permonth in calls to relatives abroad. These amounts translate into millions <strong>of</strong>dollars that benefit the companies and the telecommunication infrastructure.Between 50 to 80 percent <strong>of</strong> earnings generated through telephones comefrom home-to-home calls made by immigrants (Orozco 2004b).Home-to-home phone calls may be responsible for most <strong>of</strong> the revenuegenerated in international long-distance telecommunications. CentralAmericans living in the United States maintain significant contact withtheir home countries – and telephone calls are a major form <strong>of</strong> transnationalfamily contact. Over 60 percent <strong>of</strong> Central Americans call at least once aweek and spend at least 30 minutes a week on the phone with relativesabroad, totaling 120 minutes a month (Tables 13 and 14).Table 12. Frequency <strong>of</strong> <strong>International</strong> Long-distance Telephone Calls Made to Home-countryRelatives (percent)Two ormore timesa weekOnce aweekOnceevery twoweeksOnce amonthI seldomcallColombia 39.0 38.0 16.0 6.0 1.0Cuba 11.9 35.7 32.1 16.7 3.6Ecuador 55.0 43.0 2.0 [zero?] [zero?]El Salvador 23.8 34.3 27.6 11.4 2.9Guatemala 21.1 34.9 26.6 12.8 4.6Guyana 16.6 25.3 30.4 20.7 6.9Honduras 23.0 33.8 25.7 10.8 6.8Mexico 28.3 44.4 14.3 9.0 3.9Nicaragua 29.1 40.5 20.3 8.1 2.0Dominican Republic 60.7 16.7 11.3 8.0 3.3Total 29.1 34.7 21.3 11.2 3.7323Source: Same as Table 10.

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