Visitors’ contributions to make big impact as Tourism Development Fund revived

The Tourism and Hospitality Association of Guyana (THAG) has officially relaunched the Tourism Development Fund (TDF), renewing a private-sector push to channel visitor contributions into the long-term growth of Guyana’s tourism industry.

The relaunch took place on January 29 at Cara Lodge during THAG’s members’ meeting, bringing together tourism operators, regulators and heritage officials as the industry moves to scale up investment in product development, marketing and workforce training.

The Tourism Development Fund allows visitors to make a small, voluntary contribution during their stay or tourism experience. The pooled funds are reinvested across the sector, supporting initiatives aimed at strengthening tourism offerings, improving service standards and building capacity in a transparent and collective manner.

Originally launched in 2015, the fund has already played a role in several sector-wide initiatives. Between 2015 and 2020, TDF resources supported Bird Trail signage at the Botanical Gardens, industry training for service staff, early digital tourism initiatives and emergency COVID-19 relief for tourism businesses.

Oversight of the fund is provided by a special committee comprising representatives from both the public and private sectors, including senior officials from the Guyana Tourism Authority and the Guyana National Trust, alongside THAG’s executive leadership.

At the relaunch, THAG announced that a first group of tourism businesses had already signed on to participate in the fund. These include major hotels, eco-resorts, adventure tourism operators and air services, reflecting early buy-in across multiple segments of the industry.

As operations resume, THAG indicated that priority areas for investment are expected to include training and capacity building, improved management and protection of tourism sites, customer service initiatives and sector-wide product development, as Guyana continues to position itself as a competitive and sustainable tourism destination.

More information on the Tourism Development Fund is available at thag.co/tdf.