5 Guyanese businesses now represented on Tourism Cares’ Global Meaningful Travel Map

See statement below:

Georgetown, Guyana (September 1, 2026): The Ministry of Tourism, Industry & Commerce and the Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA) are proud to announce that five Guyana-based tourism businesses are now represented on the Tourism Cares’ Global Meaningful Travel Map, providing greater international visibility for the country’s community-led tourism, conservation and sustainable travel initiatives.

The GTA worked directly with Tourism Cares to develop Guyana’s presence on the Map, a curated resource that connects the global travel industry with vetted destinations, tourism organisations, properties and experiences that demonstrate commitments to sustainability,
community benefit and responsible tourism.

The five Guyana-based Impact Partners included are:

• Iwokrama River Lodge – Located in the Iwokrama Forest, this rainforest lodge operates within a broader model of community-centred conservation. More than 90% of Iwokrama’s staff come from nearby Indigenous communities, with women comprising more than half of that workforce. Through partnerships with more than 20 Indigenous communities, Iwokrama supports conservation, youth engagement and sustainable livelihoods. The 2025 North Rupununi Wildlife Club Festival brought together more than 300 participants representing 18 wildlife clubs.
• Karanambu Lodge – A family-run eco-tourism lodge in the North Rupununi, Karanambu has a long-standing commitment to wildlife conservation and community engagement. Its conservation work includes rescuing and rehabilitating giant otters, while its protected landscape supports more than 700 fish species and almost 400 bird species.
• Caiman House Field Station – Located in Yupukari Village, Caiman House combines accommodation, wildlife research and community development, offering experiences across the savannah, forest and river ecosystems of the Rupununi. Its conservation work includes the Yupukari River Turtle Conservation Project, while 100% of revenue surplus supports the village public library, wildlife and environmental
  conservation, and cultural preservation initiatives. Caiman House has also been recognised with the Caribbean Sustainable Tourism Award in 2012.
•  Rewa Eco Lodge – A community-owned and operated lodge located at the confluence of the Rewa and Rupununi Rivers, Rewa is home to a community of 361 Macushi, Patamona, Wapishana and Waiwai villagers. Established to support conservation and sustainable livelihoods, the lodge offers visitors opportunities to experience the community’s wildlife, culture and natural environment. Its Arapaima Conservation and Research Initiative is also internationally recognised as an example of community-led conservation tourism.
• Wilderness Explorers – Established in 1994, Wilderness Explorers is Guyana’s oldest and largest inbound tour operator and the country’s first and only Destination Management Company. With more than three decades of experience, the company has played a pioneering role in developing adventure, nature, cultural and community-based tourism in Guyana. Its work includes facilitating tourism experiences in some of the country’s most remote destinations and working with Indigenous communities and local tourism enterprises to connect visitors with Guyana’s natural and cultural heritage.

View the map below:
– 4 interior lodges: https://maps.tourismcares.org/guyana#1788284762537
– 1 tour operator, Wilderness Explorers: https://maps.meaningfultravelmap.org/tourism-cares/resource/wilderness-explorers#1788292991795

The inclusion reflects the growing role of tourism in supporting conservation, Indigenous participation and local economic development across Guyana. To date, the GTA has supported 69 Indigenous communities across all ten administrative regions in developing
community-based tourism opportunities that create new economic pathways, strengthen local capacity and promote cultural preservation.

More than 6,000 persons have received training in areas including tour guiding, culinary development, tourism operations, customer service and experiential travel, while 18 community-based tourism experiences have been launched across the country. These include experiences in the Moruca Sub-District and the North and South Rupununi circuits. In 2026, Toka Village’s Inni Lodge in the North Rupununi received the Community-Based Tourism Award at the Caribbean Tourism Organization’s Sustainable Tourism Awards, highlighting the growing recognition of Guyana’s community-led approach.

This development comes alongside strong growth in visitor arrivals. Guyana welcomed a record 453,489 visitors in 2025, a 22% increase over 2024. The momentum has continued into 2026, with 271,592 visitors recorded from January to July, representing a 12% increase
over the same period in 2025. July alone recorded 45,127 arrivals, an 11.1% increase over July 2025 and the highest number recorded for the month.

This growth is solidified by Guyana’s presence on the Meaningful Travel Map, which highlights the country across five key areas: Active Exploration, Birding, Conservation & SAVE Travel, Culture & Heritage, and Nature & Wildlife.

This opportunity brings greater international visibility to the experiences, communities and tourism businesses helping to shape a more sustainable and inclusive tourism sector in Guyana.