Major road upgrades, product development to strengthen Rupununi tourism – Minister

By LaWanda McAllister

Tourism, Industry and Commerce Minister Susan Rodrigues has said that the Government is accelerating road and bridge upgrades, improving regional logistics, and strengthening product development as part of a wider push to elevate tourism across Guyana, including in the Rupununi, Region Nine (Upper Takatu-Upper Essequibo).
Speaking during a media familiarisation tour of the North Rupununi circuit on Wednesday, Rodrigues said the experience has given her a first-hand look at both the promise and the challenges within Region Nine’s tourism sector.
She described the visit as “really exhilarating and exciting,” noting that the familiarisation exercise is critical because “we’re trying to capture as many of the tourism experiences as possible, given the time that we have.” She stressed, however, that each location “require[s] days for you to really experience all of the offerings here.”
The two-day itinerary included visits to Fairview, the Iwokrama Research Centre, the river rapids, the Iwokrama Canopy Walkway at Atta Rainforest Lodge, and an overnight stop at Rock View. Rodrigues said the region’s lodges and communities hold decades of rich history, adding, “These things didn’t start yesterday… Some of these places started 30 years ago, some going back to the 1960s.”
Rodrigues emphasised that making these experiences accessible to both local and foreign visitors is a major priority.
“One of our main priorities is, of course, making sure that it is accessible to Guyanese as well as our international visitors.”
She said the Ministry is working closely with tourism and hospitality operators to improve the quality of their offerings.
“We have to work with our tourism and hospitality stakeholders to improve their products… helping them to enhance the tourism experience that they have already.”
Part of that effort includes expanding cultural tourism and agritourism, noting that many Rupununi lodges already incorporate farm-to-table meals.
“Fresh food, local food being served… working with them to do that as well.”
On the issue of infrastructure, Rodrigues said the Government continues to invest heavily in transportation links that directly benefit hinterland tourism. She pointed to ongoing works on the Linden–Mabura Road, upgrades along the Linden–Soesdyke Highway, and the new bridges being constructed to improve access between regions.
She noted that sometimes the public underestimates how national infrastructure projects affect the tourism sector: “Sometimes we don’t see that tourism is benefiting from this as well – by improving access and making it more affordable for people to access these destinations.”
While the Rupununi is not the only geographic focus, Rodrigues acknowledged that the region has demonstrated consistent tourism success.
“The Rupununi has been doing tourism and has been demonstrating excellence… and so it gives us a good product to work with.”
She said the ministry, along with the Guyana Tourism Authority, will continue visiting all circuits to increase public awareness.
“You will see us… visiting all of the regions, all of the circuits, and giving visibility to the tourism experiences that are available there.”
Rodrigues also identified access to information as one of the major challenges for domestic travellers.
“A major challenge for the public is access to information, knowing how to get here, understanding the logistics.”
The Minister also said Wednesday’s visit forms part of her approach to personally evaluate these logistics, including road and river travel, so the Ministry can respond with targeted improvements.