THROUGHOUT the last two weeks of April, the Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA) completed a series of training sessions: product-development outreaches, as well as inspections, as part of its commitment to continuously develop Guyana’s tourism sector as well as to promote safe travel amid the pandemic.
According to a release, on April 18-22, the product development team visited Phillipai, Region Seven, to conduct an introduction-to-tourism training session. This visit is a response to the Phillipai Village Council expressing interest to the GTA in 2020, in developing a tourism experience in their community.
As part of the six-step process in GTA’s Community-Led and Owned Tourism (CLOT) Framework to develop new tourism experiences and enterprises, community members were educated about what is travel and tourism; advised of the importance of good governance and best practices in formulating an official tourism committee.

The participants were provided with community tourism development models, as well as guidance on Community-Led and Owned tourism (CLOT) terms of reference. The sessions were guided by the Product Development Facilitation Officer, Clyde Edwards and Product Development Officer, Omari Joseph.
On April 19-22, Candace Phillips, Manager of Product Development, executed an outreach in Karasabai, Region Nine. During this period, hygiene and sanitation protocols were implemented, as well as protocols to ensure governance of the establishment of their tourism product.
Further, on April 20 – May 5, as part of the development of SAVE (Scientific, Academic, Volunteer and Education) Travel in Guyana, the GTA partnered with the Wallacea Trust (Operation Wallacea – OpWall), a UK-based charity that runs a series of international conservation projects built around the concept of providing financial incentives for local communities, to conduct tourism and market-product assessments in three communities: Warapoka in Region One, and Karasabai and Sand Creek in Region Nine.

“The aim of the assessment was to determine routes, activities, and other important details required to develop new itineraries within the areas. As part of the team’s visit, meetings were held with the Tourism Committees on their plans for tourism development and identification of potential attractions which can be developed in the future. The aim of working with OpWall is to develop and market week-long wildlife and cultural itineraries and use the development of community-based tourism as a model to encourage communities to safeguard their wildlife,” the release said.

PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT OUTREACH
Santa Aratack Mission, Region Three, also benefited from a product-development outreach, which sought to conduct a thorough assessment to determine the community’s potential for unique and authentic tour attractions, as well as to deliver training in various management models, tourism-product identification and general tourism data. The completion of this assessment will form the basis of the community’s Tourism Development Action Plan. On April 23 & 24, inspections were conducted at 13 hotels and four restaurants and bars in Regions Five and Six. The Berbice Inn has since been approved for indoor dining at a maximum capacity of 12 persons. Under the current gazetted emergency safety measures, restaurants and bars are permitted to operate at a 40 per cent capacity of the establishment, but must also follow the health and safety protocols developed to allow restaurants and bars to operate in a safe way.
The GTA as part of its monitoring role requires businesses to develop written Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and conducts inspections randomly, or at the request of the businesses and issues public signs at the establishment to indicate the approval status and capacity allowed.

“Patrons can check the GTA facebook page for a list of approved tourism establishments and approved restaurants, as well as a list of the suspended tourism establishments and suspended restaurants & bars. Conditional Approvals for Reopening – As of April 31, tourism businesses have been granted conditional approvals for reopening. The most recent being Adventure Guianas, Bimichi Eco Lodge, Jungle Bug, Kanuku Tours, Manari Ranch, Old Fort Tours, Ride Along GY and Roraima Tours. We would like to take this time to recognise and commend all those businesses that have been taking the necessary steps to ensure that their businesses meet all of the requirements to be able to successfully and safely operate in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. It is through these important, resilient steps that we are able to continuously propel the sector towards recovery,” the release said.