A focus on value chains to make Guyana’s tourism industry product, market & export ready

By Stacy Carmichael-James

The Guyana Tourism Authority in collaboration with the World Wildlife Fund today held a seminar under the theme “Working Together to Build and Market Tourism Value Chains” and Head of the GTA Indranauth Haralsingh reminded that tourism is not an industry by itself but an amalgamation of various players.

The GTA, he said “is very committed to tourism development and marketing and training and capacity building it is for this reason that we seize the opportunity to utilize the expert services” while emphasizing the need for collaboration and trust.

This collaboration and trust among stakeholders, he highlighted, is necessary to generate economies of scale, reduce costs, improve product quality and improve the destination visibility in order to make destination Guyana more competitive.

The North Rupununi was identified by the GTA head as a geographic cluster that can be a part of the tourism value-chain. He said it is important to focus on what buyers want, market demand and the end market, as opposed to focusing more on the supply side of tourism.

Haralsingh pointed out that tourism is intangible, perishable, inseparable and heterogeneous, hence to have a successful industry these factors must be considered. He expressed optimism that all those present at the seminar would recognize their role and responsibility in the tourism value chain.

Meanwhile, Protected Areas Lead of the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Chuck Hutchinson in brief remarks urged that persons look at the potential that protected areas have as well as the potential of Guyana as a tourist destination given the fact that it is the only English-speaking country in South America and it possesses spectacular landscape.

The presentation was conducted by Eduardo Nycander who is a nature based Tourism Entrepreneur and owner of Rainforest Expeditions in Peru.