Investing in people, skills development paramount for tourism industry – Min Rodrigues

– as Visit Rupununi/Baganara Hospitality Training Programme ends

The Visit Rupununi/Baganara Hospitality Training Programme concluded over the past weekend with a graduation ceremony held at the Baganara Island Resort, celebrating the successful completion of the initiative and the achievements of its participants. The programme was designed to strengthen the knowledge, skills, and capabilities of individuals working within the hospitality sector, equipping them with the tools needed to deliver higher-quality service and create more memorable experiences for visitors to the Rupununi. The training comes at a time when Guyana’s tourism industry continues to grow, creating new opportunities for communities and businesses across the country. Addressing the gathering, Tourism, Industry and Commerce Minister Susan Rodrigues underscored the importance of continued investment in people and skills development. She noted that as Guyana’s tourism industry expands, building the capacity of those at the heart of the sector must remain a priority. However, the Minister emphasised that the quality of a visitor’s experience is shaped not only by Guyana’s natural attractions but also by the professionalism, knowledge and hospitality of the people who welcome and serve them. The Minister highlighted the importance of strengthening tourism capacity in communities across the country, particularly in destinations such as the Rupununi, which offer unique nature, adventure and community-based tourism experiences. Furthermore, she added that training programmes such as the Rupununi/Baganara Hospitality Training help ensure that local communities are equipped to benefit from the growing opportunities within the sector while contributing to higher standards of service.

As she congratulated the participants for their successful completion of the programme, she encouraged them to view their new skills as an opportunity for continued professional growth and entrepreneurship as Guyana works to build a tourism industry that creates employment, supports local businesses and ensures that the benefits of tourism reach communities across the country. Nevertheless, she commended the Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA), the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), Visit Rupununi, Baganara Island Resort, and all partners involved in the initiative and charged them to continue playing their part in delivering memorable experiences to visitors in Guyana. The graduation exercise was attended by the Country Representative of the IDB, Lorena Solórzano Salazar; Senior Tourism Specialist Tenisha Brown-Williams; Director of the GTA Kamrul Baksh; members of the Diplomatic Corps; President of the Tourism and Hospitality Association of Guyana (THAG), Mitra Ramkumar; and other tourism stakeholders.