Minister Rodrigues Stresses Shared Responsibility for Georgetown's Tourism Success

According to the Guyana Times, Minister Susan Rodrigues stated that every Guyanese holds a shared duty to guarantee that the capital city delivers high-quality experiences for visitors, making remarks on Saturday evening during the launch of Tourism Awareness Month 2026 at the Aiden by Best Western Hotel in Georgetown.

This year's observance, held under the theme "Tourism is Everybody’s Business," highlights the changes occurring in Georgetown and its increasing role as a hub for business travel, cultural events, and conferences.

In her address, Minister Rodrigues highlighted the necessity of providing quality visitor experiences, enhancing skills and professional development, improving infrastructure, and maintaining public areas that are clean and welcoming. The Tourism Minister expressed satisfaction with Georgetown's transformation and the addition of modern infrastructure, noting that this progress significantly benefits the tourism sector in Guyana.

She urged that keeping the city clean is not solely a municipal issue but also relates to civic pride, environmental responsibility, and the reputation of the destination.

Rodrigues further explained that tourism's impact extends beyond conventional businesses like hotels and tour operators, underscoring the sector's capacity to generate economic opportunities for Guyanese across all communities. She pointed out that tourism establishes valuable connections that aid livelihoods and contribute to national development, encompassing everyone from farmers and fisherfolk to artisans, Indigenous communities, and young entrepreneurs.

Minister Rodrigues asserted that sectors such as Tourism will serve as a lasting element, a renewable lifeblood, and a sustainable foundation for the Guyanese economy long after other resources are depleted. She noted that a successful community tourism venture can support an entire network of local businesses and workers, which is what she meant by tourism being everyone's business.

To support this, the Government reaffirmed its commitment to advancing tourism as a core element of economic diversification, while ensuring sector growth provides meaningful opportunities for Guyanese and safeguards the natural and cultural assets that define 'Destination Guyana.' Initiatives being advanced to improve access to tourism services and connect visitors with nationwide experiences include the Tourism Licensing and Regulatory Management Portal and the national destination booking engine. Furthermore, the Hospitality and Tourism Training Institute is anticipated to begin operations in 2027.

Minister Rodrigues called upon all citizens, including businesses, communities, and young people, to actively participate in advancing Guyana's tourism industry, stressing that the standard of the visitor experience relies on collective responsibility, collaboration, and national pride. She reiterated that tourism is not solely the responsibility of the Government or the private sector, but rather everyone's business.

This observance takes place as Guyana's tourism industry continues to show substantial growth, with 360,623 visitor arrivals recorded by September 2026, which represents a 10 per cent increase compared to the same period in 2025. The country is aiming to welcome over 500,000 visitors by the year's end. Attendees at the Saturday launch included Permanent Secretary (PS) of the Ministry of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, Roger Rogers; Director of the Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA), Kamrul Baksh; and President of the Tourism and Hospitality Association of Guyana (THAG), Mitra Ramkumar. The event also included members of the Diplomatic Corps, staff from the Ministry and the GTA, Indigenous leaders and Toshaos, private sector representatives, industry stakeholders, and other invited guests.

Throughout November, a series of activities will mark Tourism Awareness Month, such as tourism specials, international promotional events, the Tourism Village at GuyExpo 2026, and efforts to promote new tourism offerings and raise public awareness about sector opportunities. The GTA Director mentioned that the November campaign will focus on making tourism relevant to every community through public engagement, digital promotions, and discounted domestic travel packages. Baksh also stated that the program will feature a tourism mascot, which was unveiled as 'Carl the Capybara' during Saturday's launch, and opportunities for citizens to contribute creative interpretations of the national theme.