The Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA) hosted a series of training sessions across the country in July and also attended the Global Bird Fair in Rutland, England.
A release from the GTA said that with support from Claire and Tony Thorne of Wilderness Explorers, Leroy Ignacio, Leon Moore and Carl Browne, it participated in the annual Global Bird Fair and took the opportunity to actively promote Guyana as the ideal destination for nature lovers and birdwatchers.
Among the training programmes was one on pricing and packaging with 17 participants from Imbotero, Region 1. This training focused on the critical role that pricing and packaging play in this process.
In Region Nine, the GTA facilitated two Tour Guide training sessions. The first session was led by Ashley Holland at Caiman House, and the second by Kenneth Butler at the Bina Hill Institute. They guided a total of 67 participants through core competencies of tour guiding.
The GTA also recently completed a First Aid & CPR Training with 32 persons from Region 6 at the Leisure Inn Hotel. This training was led by Melisa Alstrom, an experienced trainer attached to the Guyana Training College for International Skills.
In terms of product development, the GTA, the Protected Areas Commission, and licensed tour operators visited the Botanical Gardens to assess the possibility of tour experiences within the garden. One of the key areas of focus was the Schomburgk Pavilion, which was donated to the National Park Commission in 2008.
The GTA and the Protected Areas Commission also met with tourism stakeholders, tour operators and local airline operators interested in tourism development within the Kaieteur National Park. This meeting discussed new rules and guidelines for visitors and emergency and safety protocols.
An outreach was also launched by the GTA to Toka Village, Region 9, to monitor the construction works for the new Toka Eco-lodge. Training focusing on the development and operations of the lodge was also held. As part of this training, the Village Council and Tourism Committee members visited Rockview Lodge in Annai to gain first-hand experience of lodge design and landscape layout and to learn more about how this lodge operates. The Toka Eco-lodge is scheduled to launch by the end of 2023.
The GTA also sponsored several events. Among these were the Elite Kayaking & Nature Tours event which promises to be an annual one.
“The GTA was proud to support this initiative, showcasing our youth’s talent, the beauty of Region 10, and the endless possibilities available when we merge sports and tourism”, the release said.
As the brainchild of Creative Director Reon Miller, PanJam: The Garden of Eden merged the magic of soca, reggae and chutney music by exceptionally talented local artists. This event was also supported by the GTA.
