THE government, via the Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA), is making efforts to create two innovative tourism experiences in Region Nine, in line with the goal of turning Guyana into a top-tier tourism destination.

The initial tourism experience revolves around pottery in the village of Toka in the North Rupununi district.
In order to accomplish this, the authority has recently organised a level two pottery training exercise involving multiple villagers. Throughout the training session, the participants gained knowledge on various clay varieties.

With this training, facilitated by Margarete Cornette, the participants will acquire the ability to effectively communicate their knowledge to visitors.
According to GTA, this experience will be a first of its kind for the village, and it will also add to the diversification of tourism experiences in the country.
This specific experience will bring much authenticity to the sector and will allow visitors to create memorable experiences.

Additionally, the authority has been working to develop a comprehensive tour package in the village of Shulinab, South Central Rupununi.
This package is being developed through collaboration with Visit Rupununi and Kamadi Adventures, two private tour operators in the area.
This new experience is geared at attracting persons interested in rustic experiences while at the same time learning about what the village has to offer.
It includes horseback riding, hiking, camping, and wildlife spotting, among other activities.

During the past months, GTA has been assessing several villages and working with the residents to unlock the areas’ potential in order to develop more tourism products.
The authority has been doing this through a ‘village circuit’ initiative which was implemented to develop what the region has to offer into unique experiences.
In July, a grant for the development of a new product was introduced, with a maximum funding of $1 million. This grant aims to alleviate expenses and provide local operators with the opportunity to bolster and broaden the tourism sector.