By: Marvin Cato | HGP Nightly News |
With the festive season fast approaching, Guyana officially launched Tourism Awareness Month 2025 over the weekend, highlighting a renewed focus on innovation, sustainability, and community-driven growth in the country’s tourism sector.
The launch took place at Banganara Island Resort in Region Seven, where Minister of Tourism, Industry, and Commerce, Oneidge Walrond (Rodrigues), delivered the feature address, declaring that “Destination Guyana” would be marketed in new and creative ways to attract both local and international visitors.
“Going forward, you will see Destination Guyana marketed and showcased in new and creative ways,” Minister Rodrigues stated.
The Minister emphasized that Tourism Awareness Month, observed every November, will spotlight Guyana’s evolving identity as a premier eco-tourism destination—one that preserves its natural beauty while driving inclusive economic growth.
“Our goal is to see all our products and destinations featured prominently both locally and internationally,” she said, urging tourism businesses to ramp up marketing efforts and strengthen collaboration across the industry.
She also appealed to stakeholders to ensure that Guyana’s tourism boom benefits communities, preserves local culture, and remains accessible to all.
“I am therefore making a call for all stakeholders to ramp up your marketing and work with the government in also making your experiences affordable and accessible for Guyanese,” the Minister added.
Meanwhile, Mitra Kumar, President of the Tourism and Hospitality Association of Guyana (THAG), underscored that outdoor adventure and immersion in nature remain central to Guyana’s tourism brand.
“The essence of tourism in Guyana is outdoor — it’s getting active, it’s getting immersed,” Kumar noted, highlighting the unique appeal of the country’s pristine rainforests, waterfalls, and rich biodiversity.
The launch ceremony saw participation from Camille Bursh, Director of the Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA), along with members of the diplomatic corps, regional officials, and indigenous leaders from Rivers View and Kamwatta Villages, reflecting the sector’s broad stakeholder support.
This year’s observance is being celebrated under the theme:
“Tourism — A Transformational Pillar of Guyana’s Economy.”
The theme reinforces the government’s commitment to building a tourism sector that serves as both an economic engine and a cultural bridge, linking communities and creating sustainable livelihoods.
