Tourism Minister backs community tourism as Ride Along GY launches bicycle rental & riding school

With the brand-new implementation of Ride Along GY’s Bicycle Rental and Riding School, Tourism Minister Susan Rodrigues marked her first public engagement by pledging strong support for community-based tourism.
Ride Along GY is a community-based tourism initiative that has consistently demonstrated innovation in Guyana’s tourism sector. The company first gained attention with the Georgetown Bicycle Tour in 2021, later expanding to Bartica with support from a tourism product development grant. Its newest venture, the Bicycle Rental and Riding School, combines recreation with sustainability, health, and family engagement, offering both locals and visitors a unique way to explore the country.

Rodrigues highlighted the venture as a model of innovation, sustainability, and the kind of authentic experience that will shape Destination Guyana.
Tourism Industry and Commerce Minister Susan Rodrigues has signalled her intention to place strong emphasis on expanding the range of tourism experiences in Guyana – a move she says will not only build the country’s reputation as a destination but also ensure small and innovative businesses have a steady customer base to thrive.
She made this announcement during the launch of Ride Along Guyana’s Bicycle Rental and Riding School at the Georgetown Botanical Gardens on Sunday.
“Going forward, I intend to place strong emphasis on developing the range of tourism experiences available in our country,” she said.
She added, “This is how we ensure repeat visitors and build the reputation of Destination Guyana. It is also how we will support small and innovative businesses like Ride Along GY, to ensure that they have a constant customer base to provide their services.”
On that note, she emphasised that Ride Along GY will be profitable and will be encouraged to expand, bringing forward new ideas on how to improve the experiences provided to visitors in Guyana.
Meanwhile, she highlighted that this project aligns directly with the government’s tourism beautification goals for Georgetown.
“Many times when visitors come, they may arrive in Region Four, but they quickly hop on another plane or boat ride. What we need to attract visitors to Georgetown is our capital city. Around the world, if your first stop is the capital city, you want to see what it has to offer and experience it fully. That is something we are going to work on – to ensure people can come and have an itinerary specifically designed for Georgetown, our capital city,” she said.
Minister Rodrigues emphasised that Guyana’s tourism sector extends far beyond hotels, encompassing a wide range of experiences, including tours, entertainment, cultural encounters, and opportunities for visitors to engage with local communities. She stressed that whether tourists come for leisure, business, or both, they should have opportunities to explore the country’s natural beauty.
“We must always remind ourselves that the tourism ecosystem is not only about hotels. Tourism is much broader. It encompasses experiences, tours, entertainment, cultural encounters, and even the ways in which visitors move around and interact with our communities. Whether our visitors come to Guyana for leisure, business, or a combination of both, they must be able to engage with the richness of our country.”
She stressed that Guyana’s framework must offer opportunities for persons to explore the country’s natural beauty, participate in recreational activities, and enjoy authentic site visits. Just as importantly, and this is something I would like to bring to the sector, these experiences must be consistent, predictable, affordable, accessible, and of a high standard,” she said.
Following her remarks on tourism development, Minister Rodrigues took a moment to personally congratulate Ride Along GY for venturing into uncharted territory and creating such an innovative, community-based tourism product.
“You have shown us that tourism products can be fresh, exciting, and sustainable. And I know how hard it is to start a business. I come from a private sector background, and I can tell you, it’s not easy,” she said, highlighting the challenges entrepreneurs face in bringing new ideas to life.
She continued, “Especially in Guyana, where we have such a small population, and sometimes the market can be unpredictable. It’s risky, and you get that nauseous feeling in your stomach when you take all of your money and invest it in something, hoping and praying that it will be successful. I commend you for your bravery in continuing to expand and roll out new initiatives and for the confidence you have in our economy. I thank you for that.”
The minister emphasised that Ride Along GY’s offerings go beyond mere cycling activities. “These are unique opportunities to explore Guyana from a new perspective and at one’s own pace. That is the kind of creative experience that makes a destination memorable,” she said.
She acknowledged the importance of the staff behind such initiatives: “Permit me to take a slight digression. This is where the staff comes in, because my portfolio also covers industry and commerce. The dedication and innovation of your team are what turn bold ideas into successful ventures that benefit the country as a whole.”