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Tourism in Guyana

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Tourism in Guyana is a fledgling industry compared to other countries in the Caribbean. Tourism is mainly focused on ecotourism, and accommodations for business travelers.[1] Guyana is home to Kaieteur Falls, Mount Roraima, and St. George's Cathedral.

In 2020, 18 businesses and 12 tour guides were licensed with the Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA).[2]

International tourism

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Mark Ellwood, contributing editor for Conde Nast Traveler, has suggested thinking of Guyana "as a bonus Caribbean country" in terms of its cultural history even though it is physically part of South America.[3]

Natural heritage

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See also: Fauna of Guyana, List of protected areas of Guyana, Category:Flora of Guyana, Category:Fauna of Guyana, and Category:Orchids of Guyana

The primary draw for tourists from abroad is Guyana's Amazon Rainforest, considered one of the most pristine, untouched forests in the world.[4] Core markets are visitors from North America and the UK (also home to a large Guyanese diaspora) and some interest from markets like Germany and the Netherlands.[5] Guyana is South America's only English-speaking country. The GTA benchmarks its practices against the Green Destinations Standard, a Global Sustainable Tourism Council-recognized set of objective criteria for "measuring, monitoring and improving the sustainability policy in light of the growing interest in sustainable tourism".[6] Sustainable tourism is a key factor in hinterland development, offering economic diversity to the area, through Amerindian villages, such as lodges at Rewa and Surama,[7] and the Iwokrama International Centre for Rain Forest Conservation and Development. Tourism is seen as a way to provide employment in these remote communities, combatting the high migration rate out of these villages.[8]

Eco-tourism activities include birdwatching[9][10] and catch and release fishing.[11]

Among many sites, Guyana is the home to Kaeitur Falls, the highest one drop waterfall in the world.

Sector growth

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The oil industry, and its potential wealth boom, has encouraged development in the tourism industry, such as the building of a second Marriott Hotel slated for completion in 2023.[12] COVID-19 severely damaged the economies of the tourism-dependent Caribbean countries, but Guyana, like Trinidad and Tobago, continues to grow due to oil production.[13]

In 2018, tourism made up 0.58 percent of Guyana's GDP (world average: 7.87).[14]

Number of arrivals[15]
1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016 2018
92,000 66,000 105,000 104,000 122,000 113,000 130,000 152,000 177,000 206,000 235,000 287,000

Challenges

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After independence, Guyana's national policies were focused on self-reliance; President Forbes Burnham called the tourism industry "parasitic" and detrimental to social development, in contrast to its Caribbean neighbors.[16]

Infrastructure woes and perception of Guyana as a dangerous location damage tourism to and within the country. Recent focus has on improving safety standards, the visitor experience and enabling all tourism businesses to become licensed.[6]

Domestic tourism

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Because of the diversity of Guyana, cultural events are an important source of tourism in the country.[17] Guyana Restaurant Week started in 2014 to attract new customers with reasonably-priced set menus.[18]

Organisations

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See also

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Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Guyana.

References

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  1. ^ "Stays by oil workers provide lifeline to struggling hotels". Stabroek News. 25 April 2020. Retrieved 17 January 2021.
  2. ^ "Marketing local tourism businesses major focus for 2021". News Room Guyana. 31 December 2020. Retrieved 17 January 2021.
  3. ^ "Top travel destinations for 2020: Santa Fe, Nashville, more". TODAY.com. 3 January 2020. Retrieved 17 January 2021.
  4. ^ "Guyana - The World Factbook". www.cia.gov. Retrieved 17 January 2021.
  5. ^ Editors, C. N. T. (2 December 2019). "20 Best Places to Go in 2020". Condé Nast Traveler. Retrieved 17 January 2021. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  6. ^ a b "Guyana claims 'Best of Ecotourism' top spot at world's leading travel, trade show in Berlin". Stabroek News. 8 March 2019. Retrieved 17 January 2021.
  7. ^ "'We want to keep our forest': why Guyana's wilderness needs visitors". the Guardian. 27 October 2019. Retrieved 17 January 2021.
  8. ^ "Reflections on the North Rupununi Cluster". Stabroek News. 11 September 2015. Retrieved 17 January 2021.
  9. ^ "Guyana on par with world class bird watching destinations". Stabroek News. 29 March 2008. Retrieved 17 January 2021.
  10. ^ "International tour operator 'encouraged' by local birding programme". Stabroek News. 23 March 2007. Retrieved 17 January 2021.
  11. ^ "Draft law completed for catch-and-release fishing in North Rupununi". Stabroek News. 31 May 2016. Retrieved 17 January 2021.
  12. ^ "Marriott Is Opening Another Hotel in Guyana Caribbean Journal". Caribbean Journal. 17 February 2020. Retrieved 17 January 2021.
  13. ^ October 09; Marin, 2020 Author: Denise. "Global Finance Magazine - The Old Days Aren't Coming Back". Global Finance Magazine. Retrieved 17 January 2021. {{cite web}}: |first2= has generic name (help)CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  14. ^ "Guyana International tourism revenue, percent of GDP - data, chart". TheGlobalEconomy.com. Retrieved 17 January 2021.
  15. ^ "International tourism, number of arrivals - Guyana | Data". data.worldbank.org. Retrieved 17 January 2021.
  16. ^ Meislin, Richard J. (3 October 1982). "GUYANA'S ECONOMY IN A SEVERE CRISIS (Published 1982)". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 17 February 2021.
  17. ^ Chabrol, Denis (6 December 2019). "Too much rum-drinking at regional festivals -Tourism Director-General". Demerara Waves Online News- Guyana. Retrieved 17 January 2021.
  18. ^ "18 restaurants signed on to Restaurant Week". Guyana Chronicle. Retrieved 17 January 2021.
  19. ^ "Duke Lodge, Atta Rainforest Lodge, Old Fort Tours win tourism awards". Stabroek News. 20 June 2018. Retrieved 17 January 2021.
  20. ^ "Carnegie reopens Hibiscus Training Restaurant". Stabroek News. 24 January 2020. Retrieved 17 January 2021.
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