FOR the first time in my life, I celebrated the new year in the Rupununi, Region Nine (Upper Takutu- Upper Essequibo). In just a few days, I was able to experience so much with some of my closest friends, and my appreciation for Guyana has increased 10fold.

There are two key takeaways from the trip. The first is that I am certainly not as physically fit as I thought, which is especially necessary when climbing a relatively steep mountain. And the second is that there is so much for Guyanese like me to experience right here.

My third takeaway is much more important to consider — though if we’re talking about immersing ourselves in Guyana’s tourism destinations and experiences — being physically fit helps.

On New Year’s Day, I trekked up the 999 steps at Moco Moco, Region Nine. That trek led to a clearing atop the Kanuku Mountains, providing a magnificent view of the savannah and the Pakaraima Mountains. I’ve done my fair share of hiking in a few places, including in foreign nations, but that view was easily the best I have witnessed. Nothing was obstructing or interrupting the view. Nothing but the crisp air and the late afternoon sunlight illuminated the entire savannah. It was just a spectacular experience that instantly erased the pain in my knees (until, of course, it was time to descend). The Moco Moco falls are also found at the bottom of the climb, offering the perfect ‘cool down’ after the trek.

You might think that this would easily attract hundreds of people, at the very least. But according to the local tour guide, they barely do about two hikes a month. Of course, heavy rainfall is sometimes a deterrent, but by and large, this experience is very accessible and affordable. It costs GY $3,000 per person to go up the 999 steps, outside of the cost to travel to the Rupununi and get to Moco Moco. And the tours are managed entirely by residents of Moco Moco, who diligently upkeep the environment.

The Rupununi is taken as Guyana’s most frequented tourist destination, given how many experiences can be found there. It also boasts of the rich culture of the indigenous people and the general, warm, and welcoming feeling there. Still, I believe that too many Guyanese have not been able to experience this place or other amazing destinations in Guyana. In fact, I can honestly say that dozens of my friends and family members were fascinated by what I shared on social media, and some expressed an interest in visiting, because they never ventured to the Rupununi before. I hope they visit!

Of course, I am not oblivious to the high cost of domestic travel, which is almost always the deterring factor for travelling around Guyana. It has deterred me before because I reasoned that I could hop on a plane to Trinidad, for example, for the same cost of travelling to some of the destinations in Guyana. That doesn’t mean that Trinidad is a better, more fascinating place to go; it just means that internal travel can be expensive — though, worth it (at least for me).

Even with cheaper alternatives in places, like taking the bus to travel to the Rupununi, there are other factors to consider and be concerned about. For example, it took me about 13 hours to travel back from Lethem to Georgetown, and I got home from that gruelling journey in the wee hours of the morning. I was exhausted (long journey + the bumpy trail) but I had to get ready for a full day at the office in about two hours. By the time you read this column, I will probably still feel some amount of exhaustion.

I also acknowledge that tourism is viewed as a luxury and not necessarily a necessity, even though one can argue that fulfilling experiences and enjoyment contribute to a person’s well-being. Because it is viewed as a luxury, it means that people won’t easily spend or seemingly ‘splurge’ on themselves.

Considering these factors, I hope domestic travel can become more accessible for locals. That may happen through subsidised travel (similar to the inter-island travel in Trinidad and Tobago, for example) or perhaps, concessions, waivers, or some tax cuts for operators so that they can, in turn, charge lower prices. With some effort, Guyana can benefit from greater appreciation from her people.

If you would like to discuss this column or any of my previous writings, please feel free to contact me via email: vish14ragobeer@gmail.com