As tourism sector grows, partners can help ‘handhold’ locals

Guyana’s tourism and hospitality sector is exploding with opportunities as the country gets more recognition abroad and as locals find a new appreciation for the experiences here.

President of the Tourism and Hospitality Association of Guyana, Dee George believes that those in the sector are capitalising on the ongoing boom but still believes that there are many more untapped opportunities.

Guyana, over the past several years, has been recognised as a top ecotourism destination globally.

George, however, posited that the tourism opportunities far exceed the realm of ecotourism- even as she contended that there are many more ecotourism ventures to be developed.

For the THAG President, Guyana’s diversity makes it a sound destination for culture tourism. The country’s natural assets position it as a good spot for adventure tourism but also health and wellness tourism.

And, community-based tourism can yet empower many more villages and residents.

So for George, foreign investors and local investors can partner with each other to provide new experiences or improve existing ventures.

But could the tourism and hospitality sector become saturated with business ventures soon?

“Absolutely not, without a doubt!” George exclaimed in response to this question from the News Room.

She added, “The thing with tourism and hospitality is that you can wake up every morning and create a new experience. Once a human has a need, we’re there to provide it.”

As Guyana becomes more business-focused, she believes the focus on tourism is increasingly necessary.

So how can the sector expand?

For one, George posited that more experienced partners can help “handhold” or support those local businesses now getting fired up.

“Very often, you may need someone that is a bit more experienced in this space to do a bit of hand-holding… you need a bit of hand-holding to upscale.

“If you look at the trajectory of the arrivals, then you can’t operate the level that you are accustomed to.

“This is where the JVs (joint ventures) will be helpful because you are working with someone accustomed to working with such numbers,” the THAG President said.

The upcoming International Business Conference (IBC), George said, is a place where locals and foreign investors can form crucial linkages.

This is so because the conference, which will be held from October 15 to 17, is touted as a space that will foster much-needed business-to-business (B2B) engagements.

Once leveraged well, George believes more tourism ventures will be forthcoming.