Oil companies offer support to Region 10 tourism industry

To bolster Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) tourism industry through comprehensive capacity building, training, education and strategic partnerships, the Greater Guyana Initiative (GGI) is supporting the development of the tourism sector through a capacity-building project.
The Greater Guyana Initiative is a US$100 million, 10-year investment made by the Stabroek Block co-venturers – ExxonMobil Guyana Limited, Hess Guyana Exploration Limited and CNOOC Petroleum Guyana Limited.
The Initiative is geared towards developing the local workforce, building human capacity, enhancing education, and improving healthcare, aimed at promoting sustainable economic diversification in Guyana.

The Region 10 project, which is set to be executed over a two-year period, will train approximately 300 tourism operators and service providers in essential areas such as tour guiding, customer service, hospitality, housekeeping, labelling and packaging, safety, and defensive driving, etc. Other components of the project include the enhancement of the Region Ten Tourism Committee (RTTC) institutional capacity, through training and the development of a strategic plan and procedures manual. During an activity last Wednesday, there was the opening of the project office and the unveiling of a minibus, which will be used to aid in the effective execution of the project.
During the launch of the project, Socioeconomic Manager of ExxonMobil Guyana Limited, Susan Scott, during her remarks, stated that GGI’s contribution goes beyond oil and gas. “This initiative holds great promise to elevate the Region’s tourism industry, through comprehensive capacity building, training and education, which directly aligns with GGI’s mission to support regional economic development, a diverse economy and tourism product.”

According to her, the committee has led several tourism sector development initiatives over the years including the hosting of business exhibitions, award shows, cleaning, and signage of tourist sites in partnership with key stakeholders.
President of the Tourism and Hospitality Association of Guyana (THAG), Omodele George, in her address, noted that the project exemplified the power of partnership. She urged all stakeholders to remain steadfast to their commitment while embracing the opportunities for learning, innovation, and growth while reiterating THAG’s unwavering support for the development of Guyana’s tourism sector.

In the aim of making Region 10 the number one tourism destination in the country and by extension the Caribbean, Chairman of the Region Ten Tourism Committee and Member of Parliament, Devin Sears, highlighted RTTC’s intended membership growth objective of 50 per cent within the next year.
Further to this, he explained that the Committee was in pursuit of securing land to construct a multi-purpose tourism headquarters to house offices for tour operators, start-ups, conferences, and training rooms.
“As Guyana continues to be globally recognised as the number one eco-tourism destination in the world, with an economy that is growing at an exponential rate, Region 10 will not be left behind,” Sears affirmed.
He noted that through continued strategic partnerships, the region’s emerging tourism industry will contribute directly to Guyana’s development agenda.