THE Guyana Tourism Authority in collaboration with the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC), and Content With Purpose (CWB) has featured Caiman House in the Yupukari Village, Region Nine (Upper-Takatu Upper-Essequibo), in a digital series titled Travel Redefined.

It showcases a powerful example of how tourism empowers youths and sustains culture, while also safeguarding wildlife.
As Amerindian Month continues to unfold under the theme: “Igniting Unity, Celebrating Progress, Advancing Our Culture”, the Indigenous community in Guyana aims to celebrate the contributions of Amerindians to the nation, and their rich history and unique culture, while also preserving it.

Rudolph Roberts, the Project Coordinator at Caiman House, said locals there have traditionally been conservationists.
By practicing tourism, he said it has encouraged them to pass on cultural skills that they possess to the younger generation. A non-profit organisation, Caiman House works under the Village Council.

“What it offers here at Caiman House is ecotourism, and we also do research and conservation, and we also do tour guide training,” he said.
With nine Indigenous Tribes, the uniqueness is that in Guyana there is still a significant amount of respect for the Amerindian culture.
He shared that they don’t want to lose their culture, noting it as something that would be passed on for generations.

A number of workshops have been organised for elderly women to teach the younger generations how to make local crafts.
“Tourism has played a key role in terms of development in Yupukari. Through GTA, we have been known as one of the forest green destinations in Guyana,” he stated, adding: “God has put us on the map, internationally. There’s a number of trainings that we do here at Caiman House.”

Roberts mentioned that Guyana is a very unique country to visit. Crediting the flora and fauna in the Rupununi, he said it has been the leading region in Guyana to promote ecotourism.
Manager of Caiman House, Delene Lawrence stated that Caiman House functions through tourism, with different activities designed for its tourists. These activity areas are the savannah, forests, and rivers.

To learn more, persons can visit: https://contentwithpurpose.co.uk/gstc/travelredefined/series_partners/guyana-tourist-authority/