Throughout the last two weeks of April, the Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA) completed a series of training sessions, product development outreaches as well as inspections as part of its commitment to continuously develop Guyana’s tourism sector as well as promote safe travel amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.
Introduction to Tourism Training – On April 18-22, the Product Development team visited Phillipai, Region 7 to conduct an Introduction to Tourism training session. This visit is a response to the Phillipai village council expressing interest to the GTA in 2020 in developing a tourism experience in their community. As part of the 6-step process in GTA’s Community Led and Owned Tourism (CLOT) Framework to develop new tourism experience and enterprises, community members were educated about what is travel and tourism, advised of the importance of good governance, and best practices in formulating an official tourism committee. The participants were provided with community tourism development models as well as guidance on Community-Led and Owned tourism (CLOT) terms of reference. The sessions were guided by the Product Development Facilitation Officer, Clyde Edwards and Product Development Officer, Omari Joseph.
Product Refinement Outreaches & Assessments – On April 19-22, Candace Phillips, Manager of Product Development executed an outreach in Karasabai, Region 9. During this period, hygiene and sanitation protocols were implemented as well as protocols to ensure governance of the establishment of their tourism product.
Further, on April 20 – May 5, as part of the development of SAVE (Scientific, Academic, Volunteer & Education) Travel in Guyana, the GTA partnered with the Wallacea Trust (Operation Wallacea – OpWall), a UK based charity that runs a series of international conservation projects built around the concept of providing financial incentives for local communities to conduct tourism and market product assessments in three (3) communities: Warapoka in Region 1,
Karasabai, and Sand Creek in Region 9. The aim of the assessment was to determine routes, activities, and other important details required to develop new itineraries within the areas. As part of the team’s visit, meetings were held with the Tourism Committees on their plans for tourism development and identification of potential attractions which can be developed in the future. The aim of working with OpWall is to develop and market week-long wildlife and cultural itineraries and use the development of community based tourism as a model to encourage communities to safeguard their wildlife.
Santa Aratack Mission, Region 3 also benefited from a product development outreach which sought to conduct a thorough assessment to determine the community’s potential for unique and authentic tour attractions as well as to deliver training in various management models, tourism product identification and general tourism data. The completion of this assessment will form the basis of the community’s Tourism Development Action Plan.
Inspections – On April 23 & 24, inspections were conducted at 13 hotels and 4 restaurants and bars in Regions 5 & 6. The Berbice Inn has since been approved for indoor dining at a maximum capacity of 12 persons. Under the current gazetted emergency safety measures, restaurants and bars are permitted to operate at a 40% capacity of the establishment but must also follow the health and safety protocols developed to allow restaurants and bars to operate in a safe way. The GTA as part of its monitoring role requires businesses to develop written SOPs and conducts inspections randomly or at the request of the businesses and issues public signs at the establishment to indicate the approval status and capacity allowed.
Patrons can check the GTA Facebook page for a list of approved tourism establishments and approved restaurants as well as a list of the suspended tourism establishments and suspended restaurants & bars.
Conditional Approvals for Reopening – As of April, 31 tourism businesses have been granted conditional approvals for reopening. The most recent being Adventure Guianas, Bimichi Eco Lodge, Jungle Bug, Kanuku Tours, Manari Ranch, Old Fort Tours, Ride Along GY and Roraima Tours. We would like to take this time to recognise and commend all those businesses that have been taking the necessary steps to ensure that their businesses meet all of the requirements to be able to successfully and safely operate in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. It is through these important, resilient steps that we are able to continuously propel the sector towards recovery.
For information on the GTA’s licensing process as well as the training schedule, stakeholders are asked to contact the Manager of Training and Licensing, Tamika Inglis at tamika@guyanatourism.com.
For community development initiatives, contact the Manager of Product Development, Candace Phillips at candace@guyanatourism.com. You can also call 219-0055.
###
About the Guyana Tourism Authority: The Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA) is a semi-autonomous governmental organisation responsible for developing and promoting sustainable tourism in Guyana through collaboration with sister agencies and the tourism private sector in order to maximise local socio-economic and conservation outcomes and improve the travellers’ experience. The GTA is focused on Guyana becoming recognised locally and internationally as a premier destination for protecting its natural and cultural heritage, providing authentic experiences, and maximising local socio-economic benefits.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
GTA trained 90 persons from Indigenous communities in Regions 8 and 9 on hygiene & sanitation
During February 8 – 10, the Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA) conducted hygiene and sanitation training sessions with eight (8) Indigenous communities in Region 8 & 9.
A total of 90 representatives from Fairview (30), Bina Hill Institute (10), Aranaputa (15), Annai (13), Wowetta (15), St. Ignatius (7), Kumu (17) and Moco Moco (13) were guided through these sessions by Shellon Nicholas, Tourism Marketing Officer and Clyde Edwards, Product Development Facilitation Officer within the GTA.
These sessions sought to raise awareness and continue providing education on the COVID-19 pandemic to communities tied to the tourism value chain in the North and Central Rupununi areas and to reinforce the safety measures established by the National COVID-19 Task Force.
Participants were guided through the general facts of the COVID-19 disease and its forms of transmission, signs and symptoms, myths and facts as well as the best practices of health and sanitation using the GTA’s recommended Hygiene & Sanitation Protocol. Participants were also trained in areas of how to establish monitoring and contact tracing systems, improve their standards of operation and were provided with hygiene and sanitation support packages (sanitising products, COVID-19 Signage, masks, etc).
Recognising the challenges that communities and businesses are facing in applying the GTA recommended protocols as well as staying updated with the latest COVID-19 related news, these training sessions have reinforced our communicative efforts in these regions as well as highlighted the importance of maintaining a high standard of hygiene and sanitation within establishments and communities, not only during times of COVID-19 but even after the pandemic has passed.
Rita Leo, Acting Toshao commended the training, “I learnt a lot from it – how to wear and dispose of a mask, how to wash your hands. I am glad for this opportunity to advise my family and other colleagues.”
Lezlene Daniels, Tour Guide from Iwokrama River Lodge also expressed her satisfaction, “the most important part [for me] is how to use a mask and hand gloves correctly. As I go back to my community, I will share my knowledge with the little ones.”
“I am very happy for [the GTA] being here to educate the young people. Most of them I invited here this morning so that they can capture as much as they can and pass it on to the smaller ones,” remarked Odelia Francis, Senior Councillor of Kumu Village.
Director of the GTA, Carla James stated that “it is amazing to see the positive feedback received directly from the villages and it is our hope that our continuous efforts to educate and support our tourism-focused communities will further contribute to our journey towards complete recovery. Adequate hygiene and sanitation is critical during this period, and we want to ensure that our sector is provided with the necessary training and support to successfully reopen.”
For more information on the GTA’s training initiatives visit www.guyanatourism.com or contact Chetnauth Persaud, Training & Tourism Development Officer, at chetnauth@guyanatourism.com or Shameza David, Manager of Training & Licensing, at shameza@guyanatourism.com in the Travel Industry Development Division (TIDD) or call +(592) 219 0055.
