Over 51,000 arrivals in Guyana in 1st quarter of 2022 – GTA

The Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA) has recorded 51,389 visitors arriving in the country in the first quarter of 2022.
Despite the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, which crippled the tourism industry globally, Guyana registered 158,347 overall visitors in 2021. In its sectoral update, the Authority said there is a projected 10 per cent increase in visitor arrivals by the end of 2022.
As Guyana continues to welcome travellers, there has been a number of notable achievements in the tourism sector. Guyana is featured as the cover story of the April edition of the National Geographic magazine. “Up the Mountain, to a World Apart” is a 36-page feature, inclusive of pull-outs and maps, covering the full story of the adventure by climber Mark Synnott, with stunning photography by Renan Ozturk.
The GTA further highlighted that through its licensing & inspections’ mandate, the GTA has since licensed 14 tourism businesses as at April 2022. These are Adventure Guianas, Azure Experiences, Bimichi Eco Lodge, Blackwater Adventures, Elite Kayaking & Nature Tours, Evergreen Adventure, Exciting Tours, Ride Along GY, The Jungle Bug, Toma1 Guyana, TrailMasters Adventure Tours, and Wanderlust Adventures.
To decentralise tourism and expand other tourism hotspot areas within Guyana, 12 new experiences will be at the disposal of the Guyanese public for 2022. Seven new experiential tourism products were officially launched in 2021.
The GTA’s Product Development Team has also initiated the projects through collaboration with stakeholders, and will feature the Kopinang Waterfall Experience; Yoga, Breakfast and Nature Walk; Nappi Mountain Trekking; Nature Retreat Experience; Linden Day Tour Experience; Wayne’s World Apartments and Oasis; Community-led and owned tourism development with Quarrie Village; Tri-Island Experience with Trail Masters; and Mahaica River Birding Tours.
The team also executed outreaches, engagements, and product assessments to the communities of Capoey Village in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam); and Tapakuma Village, Quarrie Village, Nappi Village, and Masakenari in Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo).
“Outreaches like these are part of the GTA’s mandate to secure multi-stakeholder partnerships for the development of new tourism experiences. Its intent is to highlight key assets, aspirations, opportunities, and challenges surrounding tourism development, and set the course to build more prosperous and diversified community and tourism experiences,” the GTA stated in a release to the media.
As at April 2022, the GTA trained 355 persons across the country in the areas of delivering quality service, hygiene and sanitation; first aid and CPR; and digital marketing essentials. At the end of 2022, GTA is expected to train at least 2000 candidates. An additional 1000 are expected to be trained as part of the collaborative Barbados training initiative.
The Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA) is a semi-autonomous governmental organisation responsible for developing and promoting sustainable tourism in Guyana through collaboration with sister agencies and the tourism private sector, in order to maximise local socio-economic and conservation outcomes and improve the travellers’ experience. The GTA is focused on Guyana becoming recognised locally and internationally as a premier destination for protecting its natural and cultural heritage, providing authentic experiences, and maximising local socio-economic benefits.