Govt launches campaign to improve hospitality in tourism sector

The Tourism, Industry and Commerce Ministry has officially released a new video aimed at improving behavioural attitudes and strengthening hospitality within Guyana’s tourism sector. The initiative seeks to ensure that Guyana’s renowned hospitality remains at its highest standard. The video, themed “Good Service Makes All the Difference!”, emphasises that in the world of tourism, every interaction matters – from the first “Taxi?” to the last “Thanks for visiting!”

To top it off, as part of the “Tourism is Everybody’s Business – Dat is it!” campaign, the video highlights how friendly and reliable taxi services contribute to creating unforgettable visitor experiences. Speaking about the initiative, Tourism, Industry and Commerce Minister, Susan Rodrigues explained that the video forms part of a wider campaign launched for Tourism Awareness Month. “Yesterday [Sunday], we officially released one of the ads designed to be part of what I hope will become a year-long campaign focused on addressing certain behavioural attitudes,” Minister Rodrigues stated. “There are many areas in which we can improve – the way we treat people, the way we speak to each other. It doesn’t have to be just to visitors, but also how we relate to each other as Guyanese.”
According to the Minister, the campaign is aimed at encouraging more kindness and professionalism, not only within the public service but also among all tourism and hospitality stakeholders.

Good service is good business
“Good service is good business,” she emphasised. “If we can improve our customer service, it benefits everyone. This campaign is not about any one group – it’s not just about taxi drivers or littering – it’s about how we treat each other in general.”
Minister Rodrigues noted that the challenges facing the tourism and hospitality sector in Guyana are diverse and extend beyond customer service. “The way we drive on our roadways, for example – stopping for pedestrians at crossings – these are small but important ways we can show courtesy and care. What we launched yesterday is just the beginning of a national effort to raise public awareness about our attitudes and interactions,” she said. She added that this is why the campaign’s theme, “Tourism is Everybody’s Business,” is so significant.
“Tourism doesn’t exist in a vacuum – it’s not just the job of the tourism sector,” Minister Rodrigues explained. “When visitors come to Guyana, they walk down our streets, visit our restaurants, and stay in our hotels. Every encounter they have shapes their overall experience.” The Minister expressed hope that the public will embrace the campaign’s message and join in fostering a culture of respect and service excellence. “This video comes from a place of good intention,” she stressed. “It’s an invitation for all of us to be part of this journey – to treat each other with more kindness and to continually improve the quality of our customer service and human interaction.” Launched at the start of this month, the Ministry’s renewed tourism drive comes with a plan to strengthen Guyana’s image as a premier destination. Rodrigues had announced that two new tourism products will be launched this month – one in Region Nine and another in Region Four – adding to the 68 tourism products introduced since 2020. Just two weeks ago she also revealed that a year-long Tourism Awareness Campaign will soon roll out, targeting behavioural change and improved hospitality standards across the country. The campaign, she explained, will confront key social issues such as littering, road behaviour, and public interaction with visitors, with consistent messaging across multiple media platforms to promote positive habits, national pride, and a stronger culture of hospitality. “We will have those tough conversations,” Rodrigues stated. “We will tackle our challenges with littering, with the way we interact on our roads, and with visitors. Unless we face these challenges, growth will always be constrained. This campaign will be aggressive, consistent, and positive – using social media, billboards, radio, and television to change habits and inspire pride.”