FIVE Guyana-based tourism businesses have been added to Tourism Cares’ Global Meaningful Travel Map, giving international travel planners greater access to the country’s community-based, conservation and sustainable tourism experiences.
The Ministry of Tourism, Industry and Commerce and the Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA) announced the development on Tuesday, saying the inclusion will increase international visibility for local tourism enterprises and communities contributing to sustainable tourism.
The GTA worked with Tourism Cares to establish Guyana’s presence on the map, a curated resource connecting the global travel industry with destinations, tourism organisations, accommodation providers and experiences that demonstrate commitments to sustainability, community benefit and responsible travel.
The five Guyana-based Impact Partners featured on the map are Iwokrama River Lodge, Karanambu Lodge, Caiman House Field Station, Rewa Eco Lodge and Wilderness Explorers.
Located within the Iwokrama Forest, Iwokrama River Lodge operates within a wider conservation model that places emphasis on community participation. More than 90 per cent of its employees are drawn from nearby Indigenous communities, with women accounting for more than half of its workforce. Iwokrama also works with more than 20 Indigenous communities on conservation, youth engagement and sustainable livelihoods.
Karanambu Lodge in the North Rupununi is recognised for its wildlife conservation and community engagement programmes. Its conservation efforts include the rescue and rehabilitation of giant otters, while its protected landscape supports hundreds of fish and bird species.
At Yupukari Village, Caiman House Field Station combines tourism, wildlife research and community development. Its initiatives include the Yupukari River Turtle Conservation Project, while surplus revenue is directed towards the village public library, wildlife and environmental conservation and cultural preservation.
Community ownership is central to the operation of Rewa Eco Lodge, situated at the confluence of the Rewa and Rupununi rivers. The lodge is operated by a community of 361 Macushi, Patamona, Wapishana and Waiwai villagers and was established to promote conservation and sustainable livelihoods. Its Arapaima Conservation and Research Initiative has gained international recognition as an example of community-led conservation tourism.
Meanwhile, Wilderness Explorers, established in 1994, is Guyana’s oldest and largest inbound tour operator and the country’s first and only Destination Management Company. With more than three decades of experience, the company has been involved in developing adventure, nature, cultural and community-based tourism, including experiences in remote areas and partnerships with Indigenous communities and local tourism businesses.
The recognition comes as Guyana seeks to deepen the economic benefits of tourism while ensuring that communities play a greater role in the sector.
According to the GTA, it has supported 69 Indigenous communities across all 10 administrative regions in developing community-based tourism opportunities aimed at creating new income streams, strengthening local capacity and preserving cultural heritage.
More than 6,000 people have also received training in areas including tour guiding, culinary development, tourism operations, customer service and experiential travel. The initiative has resulted in the launch of 18 community-based tourism experiences, including offerings in the Moruca Sub-District and the North and South Rupununi.
Guyana’s community-based tourism model has also begun attracting regional recognition. In 2026, Toka Village’s Inni Lodge in the North Rupununi received the Community-Based Tourism Award at the Caribbean Tourism Organization’s Sustainable Tourism Awards.
The latest international exposure comes against the backdrop of strong growth in Guyana’s visitor arrivals.
The country recorded a record 453,489 visitors in 2025, representing a 22 per cent increase over 2024. From January to July 2026, Guyana recorded 271,592 visitors, a 12 per cent increase compared with the corresponding period in 2025.
July alone saw 45,127 visitor arrivals, an 11.1 per cent increase over July 2025 and the highest number recorded for the month.
Guyana’s profile on the Meaningful Travel Map spans five areas—Active Exploration; Birding; Conservation and SAVE Travel; Culture and Heritage; and Nature and Wildlife.
The inclusion of the five businesses therefore comes at a time when Guyana’s tourism industry is expanding and increasingly promoting experiences that link visitor spending with conservation, Indigenous participation and community development.
For the local tourism sector, the initiative provides an additional international platform for businesses and communities seeking to attract visitors interested not only in seeing Guyana’s natural and cultural assets, but also in contributing to the communities and conservation efforts that sustain them.
View the maps as follow: 4 interior lodges: (https://maps.tourismcares.org/guyana#1788284762537). One tour operator, Wilderness Explorers:  (https://maps.meaningfultravelmap.org/tourism-cares/resource/wilderness-explorers#1788284846103)