MoU signed to develop Hope Town as tourism destination

The Ministry of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, the Chinese Association of Guyana, and tour company Wild Adventures, on Saturday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to develop Hope Town, Guyana’s first Chinese settlement, as a new tourism experience. The agreement was inked by Tourism Minister, Susan Rodrigues, President of the Chinese Association of Guyana, Stephen Su and Shabana Daniels of Wild Adventures. Minister Rodrigues in her remarks commended the partnership, describing Hope Town as a site of “profound historical and cultural significance.” She noted that the initiative would not only help preserve Guyana’s heritage but also create new opportunities for tourism and community engagement.

“By supporting sites like Hope Town, we preserve an essential piece of our history. This agreement represents a commendable step in ensuring our heritage is celebrated, shared, and sustained for generations to come,” the Minister stated.
Hope Town, which lies along Kamuni Creek with access to the Santa Aratak villages, is widely regarded as a landmark of Chinese history in Guyana. Through the MoU, the three parties have committed to developing tourism experiences that showcase the settlement’s history and cultural importance while enhancing the wider community’s offerings.

The Government of Guyana has been placing strong emphasis on developing hinterland and riverine communities as part of its broader tourism strategy. In recent years, the Ministry of Tourism and the Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA) have partnered with Indigenous villages and community groups to create sustainable tourism products that highlight culture, history, and the environment. Community-led projects in places such as Wakapau, Moraikobai, Paruima and Shulinab have been introduced, allowing residents to showcase their heritage while earning income through tourism.

The administration has also invested in infrastructure, including airstrips and road upgrades, and launched grant programmes to help villages establish small businesses linked to tourism, agriculture, and craft. These initiatives have not only attracted international recognition, with Guyana receiving awards for fostering Indigenous tourism, but also aim to ensure that interior communities benefit directly from the country’s growing tourism sector.