Coursera now offering tourism training platform to boost competitiveness in sector

The Government is actively working to boost local tourism by diversifying Guyana’s economy and stimulating much more business activities in communities, however, professionalism among individuals in the field is relatively low.
To address this, the Tourism, Industry, and Commerce Ministry has launched a Coursera Tourism, Entrepreneurship, and Competitiveness Training Platform.
This initiative aims to bolster the skills and expertise of professionals by providing access to a range of specialised sessions, focusing on enhancing service delivery and fostering industry growth. In this regard, the platform is tailored to equip participants with the practical and theoretical knowledge and insights necessary to excel in their respective roles within the sectors.
In a release issued on Thursday, subject minister, Oneidge Walrond highlighted that the new platform offers a curated selection of courses to address critical developmental areas in the tourism, hospitality, and business sectors.
She added that the initiative seeks to give all Guyanese access to in-demand training and to build capacity among citizens.
“This training programme offers Guyanese from all walks of life an invaluable opportunity to enhance their skills in the tourism and business sectors. By participating in this training, individuals can improve their competencies, adapt to the changing demands of the business environment and workforce, and elevate their professional capabilities,” the minister noted.
Further, Walrond related that the government is fostering a culture of continuous learning and development.
Meanwhile, speaking about the tourism-specific courses, Director of the Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA) Kamrul Baksh noted that the platform underscores the GTA’s commitment to advancing the tourism sector.
“These courses are designed to empower our workforce with the skills needed to deliver exceptional service and contribute effectively to the expansion of tourism in Guyana…We want to encourage all stakeholders within the tourism sector, including individuals and businesses, to take advantage of this valuable opportunity to build their capacity and improve the quality of service provided,” Baksh emphasized.
The platform features courses covering essential topics including but not limited to Sustainable Tourism, Promoting Environmental Public Health offered by the University of Copenhagen, and Sustainable Transportation Networks and Streetscapes and Transportation, Sustainable Buildings, and Green Construction offered by Johns Hopkins University.