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Welcome to the Online Edition of our 2024 EXPLORE GUYANA MAGAZINE – The Official Tourist Magazine of Guyana.

EXPLORE GUYANA , the premier magazine of its kind in Guyana serves as our primary marketing tool and comprehensive guide for nature enthusiasts and adventure seekers visiting eco-friendly Guyana.

Crafted by the Tourism and Hospitality Association of Guyana (THAG) and fully supported by the Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA), it not only delivers essential industry updates but also raises awareness about local sustainable development projects that positively impact communities, culture, and the economy.

Moreover, it champions environmental conservation while showcasing the diverse attractions throughout the destination.

Distributed freely across the nation and through domestic, regional, and international tourism stakeholders and travel partners in Europe and North America, EXPLORE GUYANA is an essential resource for travellers. 

Published annually through a longstanding partnership with Advertising & Marketing Services (AMS), a renowned leader in Caribbean destination and investment publications, it ensures quality and reliability in every edition.

Discover an uncharted journey and immerse yourself in nature’s finest offerings.

Embark on an Exploration of Guyana!

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Tourism Authority urges innovation, collaboration to recover from pandemic slump

“Preparing for a New Frontier – Stimulating Innovation within the Tourism Sector” is this year’s theme for Tourism Awareness Month 2021.

When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, tourism sectors all across the world took a beating and in Guyana it was not different. In fact, Guyana’s tourism sector lost about $33.6 billion in 2020, owing to the restrictions put in place to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus.

But now with an ease in travel, reduced curfew hours and vaccination numbers growing daily, there is hope that the once thriving sector can be revived.

“The tourism sector was decimated but stakeholders have been resilient and have been supported by the government…we have witnessed innovation and change but we need to collaborate now more than ever,” Kamrul Baksh, acting Director of the Guyana Tourism Authority said on Monday.

He was speaking during the official launch of Tourism Awareness Month 2021 at the Bimichi-Eco Lodge at St. Cuthbuert’s Mission, a small Amerdian Village located a few miles up the Linden Soesdyke Highway.

“We can capitalise and accelerate tourism development in Guyana, if we work together.”

This year’s initiatives, Baksh said, is focused on stimulating tourism for the new post-pandemic era.

These include a new Tourism App to track tourist movement in Guyana and the launching of seven new tourism products – all indigenous centered.

But not only this, Tourism Awareness Month 2021 gives all and sundry equal opportunity to experience the beauty and pristine nature of Guyana.

Tourism Minister Oneidge Waldron, who delivered the feature address, lauded the hosting of the activity at the Bimichi-Eco Lodge; she said that it is part and parcel of the government’s efforts to grow the country’s domestic tourism market.

“In this regard, St. Cuthbert’s is ideally located for those in Georgetown and its environs who desire a quick overnight or weekend retreat into serenity,” Minister Waldron stated.

“The possibilities here are truly immense and we are gratified to see initiatives such as these take root and grow.”

The Tourism Minister was keen to note that the theme for this year’s celebration is apt as it forces tourism centered businesses to come up with innovate strategies to suit the post-COVID world.2

“We cannot advance with archaic strategies and approaches.

“So as policy makers and stakeholders, we must now refine out tourism offerings to cater for what will be the new norms and expectations of the post-COVID 21 st  century,” Minister Oneigde added.

With a packed programme, Guyanese can look forward to a whole host of activities ranging from the the Guyana Tourism Awards, the highly anticipated Guyana Restaurant Week  and a fun 4×4 road adventure drive.

The launching of the month’s festivities also saw the relaunching of the Bimichi-Eco Lodge by the Tourism Minister and owner Amanda Mahadeo.

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WELCOME TO GUYANA

On behalf of our very hospitable citizens, let me extend a warm welcome to our fellow Guyanese and travellers from around the world. We are truly proud of the many unique and authentic experiences we have to offer as an emerging tourism destination and we are eager to share them with you.

COVID-19 greatly impacted our travel world but it reinforced our approach to sustainable destination management and marketing, which are focused on nature and adventure-based experiences, community led and owned tourism (CLOT) enterprise development, and our rich culture and heritage.

Carla James

Soon, it will be safe to travel again and Guyana is uniquely positioned to be one of the safest destinations in relation to social distancing. Our vast pristine open landscapes and small group numbers lend to a more intimate tourism experience which is ideal for travel in the Ònew normÓ. To ensure the health and well-being of our guests, we are working with all of our local suppliers, especially host communities, to implement more stringent hygiene and sanitation protocols… your safety comes first!

Though you might not be able to visit right away, we know you still want to hear the stories of the destination and be inspired for your next tripÉ and you will be, as you page through this helpful travel guide, created by local travel influencer – Tourism Guyana.

Travel is always about experiences so I would personally encourage you to go horseback riding in the Rupununi savannahs; visit our national icon – Kaieteur National Park – and have one of the worldÕs tallest and most powerful waterfalls all to yourself; go bird watching in the capital city or take a stimulating culinary tour of the Bourda Market with Chef Delven Adams, a known expert in everything food related; take an exciting boat ride up the Essequibo River and learn about the rich Dutch heritage or soak up the sun on the beaches of the riverain resorts.

Mount Roraima Expedition 2019 ©Leo Holding & Matt Pycroft

If you are more on the adventurous side, climb the Awarmie Mountain in the community of Rewa and have immersive and meaningful interactions with our Indigenous Peoples without an interpreter, because our primary language is English.

Whatever your choice of adventure, be sure to also take the time to learn about the Guyanese peoples through the attendance of festivals, enjoying the diversity of our cuisine and absorb the multitude of influences that have made Guyana a melting pot of cultures. We are all proud to share our cultural traditions and protected environments with you.

For more information about your exciting travel to Guyana, visit www.guyanatourism.com, call your local travel agent or check us out on Facebook @DiscoverGuyana for amazing content and videos! We will be waiting to welcome you to ‘Nature’s Beating Heart’!

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Guyana has been named the #1 “Best of Ecotourism” destination in the world. The award was presented to Guyana at the ITB global travel trade fair in Berlin, Germany. The second annual “Best of Top 100” Awards is a selection of the finest top 100 destinations selected by a panel of experts who reviewed sustainability success stories submitted by destinations worldwide.

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Community-led and owned tourism: how guyana’s own brand of sustainable destination management is helping indigenous communities thrive.

In Blog , Destinations .

Community-led and owned tourism is an ethos in Guyana that has seen indigenous communities throughout the destination’s hinterland creating, implementing, and managing their own sustainable tourism projects for incoming travellers.

This sustainable tourism model aims to establish meaningful tourism activities for incoming travellers while simultaneously creating a sustainable source of income for indigenous communities and an incentive to protect their natural and cultural heritage.

Guyana is a small South American nation bordered by Brazil, Venezuela, and Suriname, located where the Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea meet. It is part of the Guiana Shield; one of the only four pristine tropical forests remaining in the world and is a territory about the size of Britain with its interior being made up of 87% primary rainforest and approximately 250 small Indigenous communities.

Most communities are located in very remote and isolated areas, and many men are required to migrate out of their village to earn an income in extractive industries like gold mining and timber harvesting. Out migration can be as high as 80%, leaving behind the challenges of neglected family farms and more importantly families with absentee husbands and fathers.

Guyana’s community-led and owned tourism structure has proven to be a successful and sustainable solution, and a life-changing business model in Guyana. Community-led and owned tourism is different than community-based tourism. In community-led and owned tourism, entire communities own the tourism enterprise, deliver the tourism experience – from artisans and farmers to local tour guides, transportation services providers, and eco-lodge staff, and benefit directly or indirectly. Communities are also provided with a platform to preserve their customs, traditions, and ancestral lands as they are a key part of the visitor experience, creating huge economic and social benefits as a consequence.

Take Surama Village ( suramaecolodge.com ) for example. Surama was the first example of a community-led and owned tourism project in Guyana and, up until the mid-1990s relied on subsistence agriculture. Surama began their community-led and owned tourism enterprise in 2004 borrowing USD$5,000 to build a traditional style eco-lodge and managed to repay the loan four months early. Since then, profits have been used to expand the ecolodge, buy tourism vehicles, establish internet service, finance a community fund and more. The Surama  Eco-lodge has become the largest driver of economic activity in the area. Community members are employed either directly as hospitality staff, tour guides, cooks, artisans, and drivers, or indirectly as farmers, hunters, fishermen, and construction and maintenance workers.

Surama  Eco-lodge is just one example of an array of unique, authentic tourism enterprises that fully embraces sustainable tourism concepts and core values. Newer tourism ventures are being welcomed year on year throughout Guyana, providing visitors with an entirely different tourism proposition. The Arawak community of Capoey ( guyanatourism.com/capoey-lake-and-mission ) on the Essequibo Coast is a newer addition and is characterised by towering mango trees, neatly laid out benabs, lush surrounding savannah and the twittering and calls of bird song. Guests can access Capoey by boat across the spectacular Lake Capoey and will have the opportunity to enjoy fishing tours on the lake and swim in its waters before enjoying a BBQ on its white sand beaches. Excursions away from the village include a walk along the surrounding nature trails observing rare birds and butterflies and gathering medicinal plants. Travellers can also enjoy evenings of cultural presentations, singing, dancing and traditional crafts.

The goal for the Guyana Tourism Authority is to see a number of new communities setting up their own tourism enterprises using the community-led and owned tourism framework and toolkit; however, it is important that communities are assessed on their readiness for tourism to avoid failure through lack of adequate funding, training and governance. The Guyana Tourism Authority always considers the importance of establishing leadership in the form of a Tourism Committee, ensuring the benefits of tourism are equitably distributed in communities, securing input from all key stakeholders in prioritising policy recommendations and capacity building needs. Ideally these new enterprises would be trained and maintained with the help of the more established eco-lodges like Surama.

Since the turn of the COVID-19 pandemic, our perspective on our precious planet has shifted as with reduced human activity, nature has thrived in many areas. We have become more aware of our physical reach and impact on the world. So, in 2021 and beyond, the Guyana Tourism Authority wants travellers  to the destination to understand just how much of an impact their mere presence alone has on maintaining these community-led and owned tourism projects which ultimately contribute to the conservation of Guyana’s rich natural and cultural heritage.

Guyana hopes to see more travellers from around the world enjoying this amazing and little-known country in a sustainable and responsible manner.

For more information on Guyana, please visit www.guyanatourism.com

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• |  December 2, 2021
• By Naomi Parris
• -  December 2, 2021

WITH the changes brought on by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA) in partnership with the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), DAI Global, and Wilderness Explorers (WE), on Wednesday evening, unveiled the ‘Discover Guyana’ Tourism applications (apps).

Sharing the details of the applications at a simple ceremony held at Cara Lodge, GTA’s Director (ag), Kamrul Baksh, said that the platforms allow for the screening of guests before they arrive at their intended destination in the country.

Baksh said the applications also allow service providers to create profiles for their establishments and add various features. He said that the development of such an application highlights the work that is being done by the Ministry of Tourism, Industry and Commerce and its sub-agencies to push the tourism products and services of Guyana to a higher level.

Subject Minister, Oneidge Walrond, urged the embracement of technology and partnerships to further boost Guyana’s tourism sector.

“Today’s [Wednesday’s] launch is a response to all these lessons; that we have to embrace technology, we have embraced partnership; that is, public-private partnership,” Minister Walrond said. Additionally, she related that the applications will provide reassurance to visitors when they come to destination Guyana.

“As we launch this app, we hope to send a strong signal to our visitors that your safety is our top priority and to our service providers and to the communities that will be welcoming our visitors that the safety of our visitors… the safety of our employees, the safety of our communities is the priority of the government,” Minister Walrond said.

The first mobile application named “Discover Guyana” is built specifically for travellers. It provides real-time information on safeguards, standards and certified providers at each stage of their inbound and outbound travel to the region.

Travellers could plan their trip by viewing GTA’s certified tourism establishment profiles, communicate directly with tourism providers, and add required health records for easy screening during travel.

The second mobile application, Discover Guyana Tourism Service Providers, allows tourism service providers to create profiles for their establishments, demonstrate their COVID-19 certification information to travellers, respond to inquiries, and access up-to-date health information to keep their staff and visitors safe.

The application also features a check-in system that will require travellers to check in and out of lodges and answer periodic questions about their health in order to track a visitor’s travel history in the event of a positive case.

The applications were developed by a local technology company and could work with little or no internet connection, making it easy for those service providers based in outlying regions of the country.

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• | 2024-04-14

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Who is thag.

The Tourism and Hospitality Association of Guyana is a membership based, non-profit, hotel and tourism group that is the lead voice of stakeholders in Guyana's destination product.

Through the years our efforts have been instrumental in realizing the changes needed to grow our businesses and provide memorable experiences for our visitors.

What do you do?

We exists to:

• promote sustainable tourism development;
• ensuring quality service for its clients;
• to provide benefits to its members;
• collaborating with  government institutions;
• networking with local, regional and international agencies

Why do I join?

We provide opportunities for members to make new connections, be a part of a community with like interests and benefit from initiatives that can directly affect the efficiency and success of their businesses.

The intention of the Association is to act as a catalyst bringing members closer to potential clients in a cost effective way.

News & Events

Launching of GRW: November 20-29

In light of the COVID 19 pandemic, the socially distant GRW launching will be held Friday, November 20, 2020, at 11:00hrs, at the Guyana Marriott

RESTART TOURISM, Leaving no one behind

It has been eight (8) months and counting since the Tourism & Hospitality Industry of Guyana has been closed due to the pandemic.

Adhere to the COVID 19 Protocols for Business Operations

THAG encourages compliance with the issued order and reminds all of the restrictions on social activities and business operations.

Guyana Restaurant Week

We have over 15 participating restaurants attracting hundreds of daily diners for the most anticipated culinary event in Guyana. 10 days of delicious creativity.

Brunch with your Bunch

For three days, selected restaurants come together to offer attractive buffets at a Prix Fixe price of $4,000. This encourages new and regular customers to relax and embrace whatever gastronomic delight is in the offering.

Tourism Development Fund

The TDF allows THAG to make a contribution to the actions and decisions that help tourism in Guyana. We do this by collecting a small voluntary contribution from our visitors.

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This is the only magazine of its kind in Guyana. It is published with the full support of the Guyana Tourism Authority, which helps distribute 25,000 copies free  through domestic, regional and international tourism stakeholders and travel partners.

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232 tourism businesses licensed in 2023

Guyana’s tourism sector continues to expand with more persons getting involved in tourism businesses, with some 232 businesses being licensed in 2023 alone.

This year again existing and potential tourism businesses will have the opportunity to get licensed, as the Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA) is set to host its tourism business licensing clinic at the Arthur Chng Conference Centre on Friday.

GTA’s Director, Kamrul Baksh noted that the activity brought much success and resolved issues in compliance for tourism businesses last year.

“Our target this year is to get 250 businesses and guides at a minimum, and these clinics are certainly one of the ways that the GTA will use to get that figure attained,” Baksh explained.

He noted that the authority will also give support services to businesses that require additional guidance, training, and capacity building throughout the year.

The activity will see compliance and licensing agencies including the Guyana Revenue Authority, National Insurance Scheme, Environmental Protection Agency, Guyana Invest, Central Housing and Planning Authority, Maritime Administration, Mayor and Town Council.

Insurance Companies will also be present at the event.

Baksh said the agency anticipates the participation of a minimum of 75 businesses attending the clinic.

“So that stakeholders within our industry, hoteliers, tour operators [and] guides can come and get those burning questions answered, get updates, make payments, and so forth. the aim is to get everybody under a singular roof so that the process is very seamless and matters can be addressed at that one point in time,” the director underscored.  

To register, persons can call the GTA on telephone number 219-0093-6 or send a WhatsApp 638-5111.