As the country’s tourism sector continues to expand, the Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA) on Sunday said it has licensed 30 tourism establishments, tour operators and tour guides and trained more than 87 people across the country.
They have also executed inspection activities in Regions Three, Four and Ten during which 35 tourism establishments, including interior lodges and resorts were inspected.
Other achievements include new airline connections, product development and international recognition.
The GTA outlined its achievements for the month of March in a press release issued on Sunday.
It said trainings were held in areas such as first aid and CPR testing, mixology, delivering quality services and Health, Safety, Security & Environment (HSSE).
“The GTA facilitated a First Aid & CPR Training with 23 persons from Paruima Village, Region 7…Practical and theoretical methods were employed to ensure that the community is sufficiently trained to handle emergency situations whenever they arise…A subsequent session was executed with 24 persons within the Essequibo areas,” the release noted.
Mixology training was led by Chetnauth Persaud of the GTA and Anil Singh, an experienced bartender. This session was held in Linden, Region 10, in collaboration with the Region 10 Tourism Committee.
“Critical areas of mixology, such as the Different Types of Bartending, Selecting Ingredients, Garnishing Drinks, Measuring & Pouring Techniques as well as How to Properly Present a Drink, were covered. These areas were also complemented by Customer Service Practices, Time Management, Communication as well as How to Remain Calm Under Pressure,” the GTA highlighted.
They also facilitated a Delivering Quality Service training with 14 participants at the Aruwai Resort White H2O.
“Participants were guided through areas such as the importance of customer service, as well as proper etiquette and hospitality techniques, to ensure that all guests receive the highest quality of customer service that is consistent with both local and international standards,” GTA said.
An additional session was held in Region Two which saw 26 persons being trained in the same areas.
Product development on the other hand include the Discover Essequibo Circuit Development Project, Tourism and Hospitality Training Initiative, Wilderness Trail Assessment, and Mahdia Overland Tour.
“The Tourism and Hospitality Association of Guyana (THAG), with the support of the Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA) and representatives from the consulting firm Target Euro, recently launched the Discover Essequibo Circuit Development Project with stakeholders from the Essequibo Coast and Bartica areas. The first phase of this project focused extensively on product development, which sought to assess the region’s current product and service offerings while exploring opportunities for new products and visitor flows.”
Meanwhile, it was noted that 62 Community Service Officers (CSOs) from the ten administrative regions across Guyana attended a one-week Introduction to Tourism Training as part of the Tourism and Hospitality Training initiative by the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs’ Youth Entrepreneurship and Apprenticeship Programme.
