THE Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA), in collaboration with the Tourism & Hospitality Association of Guyana (THAG), is inviting the submission of applications for the Guyana Tourism Awards 2019.

The awards seek to recognise the stellar performance of leaders in the GTA/THAG sector, and to encourage, acknowledge and celebrate excellence, quality, professionalism, and innovation across all sectors of Guyana’s travel and tourism industry. Through the award programme, GTA and THAG also aim to provide a benchmark for best practice and encourage continuous improvement, publicly recognise tourism leaders, and provide a networking opportunity with other entrants, sponsors, and the broader tourism industry, a release stated.

A total of 15 awards will be presented under two categories: Industry Awards – 12 categories; and the People’s Choice Awards – three categories.
For the Industry Category, the awards are based on nominations and the strength and volume of the justifications to support the nomination for the said category. These are all selected by the GTA-THAG judging panel. For more information, review the Online survey which includes the rules and instructions: https//www.surveymonkey.com/r/ZDDHB6G
The People’s Choice Awards are for Hotel of the Year; Interior Lodge or Resort of the Year; and Restaurant of the Year, and are given based on the total number of votes. For more information, review the Online survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/SL5V9WG
According to the general rules in the relevant categories, individuals and companies must be licensed and/or actively involved in licensing to be nominated by the GTA and THAG. Each criterion states what is required for survey participants to nominate additional award candidates.

And, in accordance with the laws of Guyana all tour guides, tour operators, tourism accommodation establishments and interior lodges and resorts must be registered and licensed by the GTA in order to operate. Survey participants, however, are not required to answer all questions.

Meanwhile, the GTA and THAG reserve the right to cancel any entry without any intimation/information; if a nominee wishes to withdraw their nomination from the awards, the participant should inform the GTA or THAG in writing by the latest Dec 03, 2019; participants and nominees shall abide by these rules and regulations. They should also understand that just by participating in the awards process does not entitle them to win any prize or any other form of recognition.
Also, the decision given by the judging panel shall be treated as final and all the participants shall abide by it.
The nominations received against each category will be evaluated by the judging panel and the winner(s) in each category will be announced initially at the 2019 awards ceremony and afterward via media.

The judging panel reserves the right to audit or ask for any documentary proof or site visits (if required), to validate the information provided. The participants shall provide all necessary support to the panel to validate the information.
Also, the award categories can be changed/modified/cancelled as per the discretion of the judging panel and the evaluation process will be conducted by the GTA and THAG judging panel only and will be strictly confidential.

Additional information regarding the awards can be had by Davina Layne, Manager of Training, Licensing & Operations: Travel Industry Development Division at davina@guyanatourism.com or call +(592) 219-0094.

With Guyana’s rise as the number one ecotourism destination in the world, and receipt of five other international accolades throughout 2019, the tourism sector’s hard work is beginning to pay off. With 286,732 total visitors last year, it is estimated that travel and tourism injected approximately GY$62.6B directly into Guyana’s economy, making tourism its second-largest export sector.

The growing benefits generated by Guyana’s tourism sector are becoming more recognisable and are the result of the hard work of partners within the industry.
The Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA) is a semi-autonomous governmental organisation responsible for developing and promoting sustainable tourism in Guyana through collaboration with sister agencies and the tourism private sector in order to maximise local socio-economic and conservation outcomes and improve the visitors’ experience. The agency is focused on Guyana becoming recognised locally and internationally as a premier destination for protecting its natural and cultural heritage, providing authentic experiences, and maximising local economic benefits.