‘Ride Along GY’ experiential tour launched to boost tourism in Bartica

While Bartica is popularly known for its annual Regatta festivities, Mayor Anthony Murray believes that exposure from the ‘Ride Along GY’ tour would boost tourism in the region.
This new experiential product, launched by the Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA) earlier in the week, offers locals and tourists the chance to explore historical and other breathtaking sites from the seat of a bicycle.
This new experience features unique attractions such as the Golden Beach and the Cenotaph located at the intersection of First Avenue and Third Street. The package offers a 30-minute guided tour.
According to Murray, this new experience is significant for the township, since its natural beauty would be showcased. As a result, he has pledged continued support for the spectacular venture, which he believes has the potential to curate ever-increasing economic benefits sustainably for Barticians.

“As the Mayor (of) the Township of Bartica, we are definitely happy to have this product to be explored in Bartica, and to start the journey of good things to come in the tourism industry. Barticians, for the first time, will get to experience this, and tourists that are coming in [to Bartica] three times per week. This is something that will augur well for us, because lots of persons do not know the layout of Bartica, and this will help them to see the natural beauty as they Ride Along and have the trip with their cycles,” the mayor said.
Proprietor of ‘Ride Along Gy’, Cherry-Ann Greene, related that her goal is to continue expanding her company’s services across the country.
“When I started Ride Along in 2021, I always wanted to come to Bartica. I know I wanted to go to the different regions in Guyana, but Bartica was always my next stop…Cycling is a passion for me actually, because of the health benefits that it gives, and then it turned into tourism, so we can get to see the different parts of Guyana and people using cycles.”

Manager of the Product Development Department of the Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA), Candace Phillips, described the undertaking as signalling the first step of a robust partnership with the region, private operators, and the Government to transform Bartica as a major tourism hub. she disclosed that the regional administration and tourism committee have also signalled new plans to expand Bartica’s tourism potential and transform it into a prominent tourism destination.
“This one step is just the beginning point of all the experiences that could be launched here. The Product Development team has been working here for about three years now, but, in the last year, we have been able to step up that work…This is the next step in a bigger product that we are also working on, called Discover Essequibo…We are recognising that for tourism to be done well in this area, we need to build collaboration and keep working together for a greater vision,” Phillips highlighted.
This is the eighth tourism experiential tour that is being launched by the GTA thus far for 2024, including a new Paddle Boarding Experience, an Inclusive Bicycle Tour, the Demerara Sunset ‘A Journey through Pottery’ Experience by Toka Village, and the Explore Lethem Day Tour.