CITY Inn Suites recently acquired its Certificate of Compliance from the Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA), making that entity the first in Region 6 (East Berbice/Corentyne) to have been GTA certified.GTA Director Indranauth Haralsingh pointed out that the City Inn Suites has been the first entity to achieve conformity in the Tourism Accommodation Establishment category countrywide, and is also the first to be licensed in Region 6.

This, he noted, was no small achievement for the City Inn Suites, and he encouraged all tourism businesses to follow suit, and to ensure that they adhere to all set regulations.

In an effort to prepare local businesses to become more competitive, the Ministry of Tourism and the Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA) are striving to ensure that tourism-related establishments meet the necessary requirements expected by any tourist or visitor visiting any one of the facilities, whether that person is a foreigner or a local resident.

The GTA has, to date, presented certificates of conformity to Wilderness Explorers, Rock View Eco Lodge and Resort, and to the Roraima Tours.

The GTA Director made a special appeal to those businesses that have not yet been registered to recognise the importance of the exercise and the many benefits that attend compliance.

“The first step is to be registered. You may have various reasons, but no business is too small to be registered, especially if people are putting all their faith and trust in you,” he urged.

Alluding to the benefits derivable from achieving 100% compliance, Haralsingh explained that the GTA would be separating these businesses, and will provide on its website a listing that would determine who gets support in terms of both local and international exposure.

“The GTA’s Act and these regulations say that you need a licence to operate any one of these businesses. We would not want our visitors to have a tourism experience with an unregistered and unlicensed business,” the GTA Director explained.

During a simple ceremony held recently at the GTA’s Office, City Inn Suites proprietor Krishnandan Jaichand was presented with a Certificate of Compliance. He expressed his pleasure at becoming the first entity in Region 6 to be confirmed to the GTA’s standards.

The GTA will continue to monitor and evaluate hospitality institutions across the country in its effort to ensure the Tourism Industry in Guyana continues to grow and expand.