“Tourism Is everybody’s business” – Rodrigues urges shared responsibility

With Georgetown placed at the centre of this year’s Tourism Awareness Month observance, subject Minister Susan Rodrigues has pointed out that every Guyanese has a shared responsibility towards ensuring the capital city delivers quality visitor experiences. She made these remarks on Saturday evening during the launch of Tourism Awareness Month 2026 at the Aiden by Best Western Hotel in Georgetown.
Held under theme “Tourism is Everybody’s Business,” this year’s November observance spotlights the transformation across Georgetown, and its growing importance as a centre for business travel, conferences and cultural experiences.

During her feature address, Minister Rodrigues noted the importance of delivering quality visitor experiences, strengthening skills and professional development, improving infrastructure, and maintaining clean and welcoming public spaces.

“We are pleased to see Georgetown transform. We are pleased to see our skyline changing with the addition of modern infrastructure… and I think it’s time that we celebrate the progress that we’ve seen in the city which greatly impacts the tourism sector here in Guyana,” the Tourism Minister declared.

“Keeping our city clean is therefore not only a municipal concern, but it is also a matter of civic pride, environmental responsibility, and the reputation of our destination,” she urged.

Tourism, livelihoods and development

According to Rodrigues, tourism extends beyond hotels, tour operators and traditional tourism businesses, highlighting the sector’s ability to create economic opportunities for Guyanese across all communities.

From farmers and fisherfolk to transportation providers, artisans, Indigenous communities and young entrepreneurs, the Minister underscored that tourism creates valuable linkages that support livelihoods and contribute to national development.

“Sectors like Tourism will be the enduring soul, the renewable lifeblood and the sustainable anchor of the Guyanese economy long after the wells run dry… A successful community tourism enterprise can support an entire network of local workers and businesses. This is what it means for tourism to be everybody’s business,” Rodrigues noted.

To this end, she reaffirmed Government’s commitment to advancing tourism as a key pillar of economic diversification while ensuring that the sector’s growth creates meaningful opportunities for Guyanese, and protects the natural and cultural assets that make ‘Destination Guyana’ unique.

This is being demonstrated through initiatives such as the Tourism Licensing and Regulatory Management Portal and the national destination booking engine that are currently being advanced to improve access to tourism services and connect visitors with experiences across the country.

Additionally, the Hospitality and Tourism Training Institute is also expected to commence operations in 2027.

Citizens to be part of tourism success

Minister Rodrigues called on businesses, communities, young people and every citizen to play an active role in advancing Guyana’s tourism industry, emphasising that the quality of the visitor experience depends on collective responsibility, collaboration and national pride.

“Tourism is not just the Government’s business. It is not just the private sector’s business. Tourism is everybody’s business,” she declared.

This year’s observance comes as Guyana’s tourism industry continues to record significant growth, with 360,623 visitor arrivals recorded by September 2026, representing a 10 per cent increase over the corresponding period in 2025. The country is working towards welcoming more than 500,000 visitors by the end of the year. Also in attendance at Saturday’s Tourism Awareness Month launch were 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 was also attended by members of the Diplomatic Corps, staff of the Ministry and the GTA, Indigenous leaders and Toshaos, private sector representatives, industry stakeholders, and other special invitees.

Throughout November, a series of activities will be held to celebrate Tourism Awareness Month, including tourism specials, international promotional engagements, the Tourism Village at GuyExpo 2026, and initiatives to promote new tourism products and increase public awareness of the opportunities available within the sector.

According to the GTA Director, the November campaign will place greater emphasis on making tourism relevant to every community through public engagement, digital promotions and discounted domestic travel packages.

Baksh further noted that the programme will also feature a tourism mascot – unveiled as ‘Carl the Capybara’ during Saturday’s launch – and opportunities for citizens to contribute creative interpretations of the national theme.