DURING a recently-concluded familiarisation trip to Guyana, award-winning Travel Writer Mark Stevens and his wife Sharon Matthews-Stevens, an award-winning photographer, were given the opportunity to experience Guyana’s rare beauty and authentic culture.The couple will be promoting Destination Guyana in the Canadian marketplace, and they were elated to discover for themselves the unique facets of Guyana’s tourism product.

Their itinerary, which was tailored by the Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA), was expansive, and included visits to Yupukari, Surama, Atta Lodge, Kaieteur Falls, and the capital, Georgetown.

The journalists enjoyed bird-watching, wildlife-spotting and hiking, and they also immersed themselves in the culture of the indigenous communities they visited.

The Stevens’ works on the Caribbean have appeared in popular publications, including the Washington Post, Toronto Star, Ensemble Vacations, and Dreamscapes among others.

Late last year, the Stephens were recognised during the Caribbean Week in Canada Awards for their outstanding works.

They will be pitching story ideas from their adventures in Guyana to the Outpost Magazine and the Explorer; and according to Mr Stevens, they are working towards producing a feature in a popular Canadian publication.

Expounding on the benefits for the destination, GTA Director Indranauth Haralsingh explained that a familiarisation trip is the most proactive, cost-effective marketing tool, as it promotes Destination Guyana and helps to expand sales, distribution and awareness.

Upon their return to Georgetown, the Stevens shared highlights of their experiences and provided insights into new areas for product innovation, and said they were quite impressed by the hospitality and warmth demonstrated to them during their seven days in Guyana.

Over the years, the GTA has facilitated numerous FAMs, which have generated tremendous exposure for Guyana.

This trip was facilitated by a collaboration among Wilderness Explorers, Atta Lodge, Surama and Yupukari/Caiman House, and was the second FAM for 2016; JCD (Caribbean Airlines video production team) recently completed filming here.