Over 20 tourism businesses honoured for exceptional economic contribution

Over 20 tourism-focused businesses and professionals were honoured on Tuesday night as the Government pushed for deeper investment and stronger sector participation, during the Guyana Tourism Awards and Gala 2025, hosted at the Marriott Hotel under the theme Jewels of the Night.
Tourism operators, conservation leaders, hospitality innovators, and youth entrepreneurs from across the country filled the ballroom as top officials spotlighted their contributions to economic expansion, job creation, and global tourism positioning.

The award segment of the night showcased excellence across nature-based tourism, dining, tour services, infrastructure partnerships, and national guide accreditation.
Youth talent dominated areas such as the Emerging Guide category, while community-focused conservation organisations earned recognition for long-term environmental and economic contribution.
Top category winners included best emerging tour guide Christopher Persaud, best new product/experience of the year Waia Green Escapes, best in dining Nikkei Guyana, and best tours for the Jonestown Memorial Tour by Wilderness Explorers.
Conservation powerhouses including the Iwokrama International Centre for Rainforest Conservation and Development, South Rupununi Conservation Society (SRCS), Caiman House Inc., and the Guyana Marine Conservation Society (GMCS) earned major nods for shaping sustainable tourism pathways.
Interior lodging excellence was highlighted with awards to Baganara Island Resort and Mainstay/Whyaka Village for Coastal Community-Led Tourism.

Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, Susan Rodrigues, laid out an ambitious and sharply focused agenda for 2026, signaling that government interventions will become even more aggressive and development-led.
“We recognize businesses that raise the standard of hospitality, tour operators who design fresh experiences, guides who carried our culture with dignity, and communities that open their doors with confidence. Every award presented this evening honors dedication, creativity, and careful attention to the visitor experience… As such, our approach to 2026 will be even more aggressive, focusing on areas that have shown the greatest potential for expansion and long-term impact. We will intensify capacity building across all regions so that quality and professionalism are present in every tourism destination. The Tourism and Hospitality Training Institute will move from construction to full operational readiness, increasing the number of trained workers who can meet the demands of a rapidly growing sector. Regional tourism desks and information centers will be strengthened, and we will work closely with local leaders so that standards are clearly understood and consistently maintained. We will advance product development with greater urgency,” the Minister announced.
The Minister also signaled government’s commitment to expanding community tourism, noting that the move is a serious economic pathway capable of creating employment, strengthening local pride, and adding new products to our national portfolio.
“Community engagement will continue to guide our decisions…Those conversations informed our approach to tourism circuit development and to technical assistance for community-based enterprises. We will expand training for guides, strengthen market access for craft producers, and support infrastructure improvements that enhance accessibility without compromising the site’s integrity. I saw up close what is possible when a community decides to present itself to the world on its own terms, with support from the government, through various grants, including presidential grants and proceeds from the Low Carbon Development Strategy. We will intensify technical assistance, business support, and marketing guidance for villages and entrepreneurs who are ready to take similar steps,” she added.
The Guyana Tourism Awards and Gala 2025 closed the curtain on the Ministry’s Tourism Month observance.
This year’s Tourism Awareness Month’s theme, “Tourism: A Transformational Pillar of Guyana’s Economy”, she noted, reflects the rapid transformation taking place in the industry.