GNBS urges stakeholders in tourism sector to set high standards

As Guyana is still grappling to guarantee the safety of all Guyanese and tourists, the Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS) is imploring stakeholders in the tourism sector to set high-quality standards that will regale visitors to the country.
In a recent webinar, GNBS Public Relations Officer Lloyd David, President of the Tourism and Hospitality Association of Guyana (THAG) Mitra Ramkumar and GTA’s Manager of Product Development Kamrul Baksh chewed over the significance and importance of high-quality standards, especially in the tourism sector.

David added that the GNBS has outlined a number of standards that can help establishments within the sector in their recovery and for them to bounce back and become more sustainable.
He added that all stakeholders need to take into consideration health and safety, food safety and bed and breakfast standards that could be beneficial to those who comply with the outlined implementations.
David further noted that since Guyana is now an oil and gas producing nation, a lot of tourists and business owners will be visiting the country and will expect great hospitality with quality standards.
“As it related to safety tourism, when these diplomats and these visitors visit us they expect a certain level of service,” he said.

Meanwhile, President of THAG, Mitra Ramkumar agreeing with GNBS’s PRO, said with standards come authenticity that will make visitors comfortable.
“The business traveller in the tourism private sector is a huge market, and it is going to be more important now than ever before in Guyana’s history because of the oil and gas sector. You will have a huge amount of expats in-country who are looking for something to do on a weekend, but they will not go out to places that do not have standards,” Ramkumar said.
Agreeing with THAG’S President, David added that even though implementing these standards might sound difficult, it is not. He said that stakeholders don’t have to take all together and try to do all at once, but they can focus on health and safety, on cleanliness, and how their staff interacts with the tourists.
GTA’s Manager of Product Development, Kamrul Baksh during his address highlighted that the GTA’s regulatory framework has four broad categories under which businesses are licensed – tourism accommodation establishments, interior lodges and resorts, tour operators and tour guides.
He added that there will be an expansion in that area that will include experiential providers, destination management companies and outfitters.
“All of these areas will be added to the mandate of the Guyana Tourism Authority so that we could have a broad reach and to ensure that the majority of tourism operators are compliant with the laws.”
For those stakeholders who familiarise themselves with the standards, technical assistance is provided to them. GTA has also commenced standardised training with a syllabus from the Caribbean Tourism Organisation and the Adventure Travel Trade Association.