Guyana pushes back against sensationalist vloggers as tourism records soar

Guyana’s Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, Susan Rodrigues, has taken aim at what she described as the “brand” of certain foreign content creators, while underscoring the country’s considerable strides in tourism and national development.

Speaking on the Starting Point podcast, Minister Rodrigues addressed recent social media content from a British and a French vlogger that depicted interactions with local residents and raised concerns about safety, infrastructure and cleanliness. The Minister said the videos reflect a pattern of provocative online behaviour designed to generate views, rather than a fair assessment of Guyana’s progress.

“We have seen a heavy presence of police officers at events such as the Christmas Village at GuyExpo because we want people to feel safe,” Rodrigues said. “Even if there is no real threat, seeing law enforcement officers provides comfort and ease for families walking around.”

However, Rodrigues noted that both the British and French vloggers appear to have exploited such scenarios for digital engagement, describing it as “their brand” — a strategy they have used in other countries to spark controversy for likes and shares.

The French creator, she said, travelled to a residential area in Sophia and began filming in front of a private home where a family was gathered with children playing in a pool. “If you go in front of somebody’s home and you’re live with your camera, you will offend people,” Rodrigues said, adding that the reactions from residents were “natural and not unreasonable” given the circumstances.

Rodrigues was particularly critical of the British vlogger’s tone, saying it came across as “imperialistic” and “condescending” towards Guyana. She contrasted those portrayals with the country’s real, recent achievements.

“Without any appreciation of how far Guyana has come as a country — from periods of economic hardship and a lack of democratic governance to building viability within a relatively short time — these portrayals miss the mark,” she said.

Addressing one of the critiques made by the vloggers — that Guyana receives few visitors — Rodrigues announced that the country had recorded 453,489 visitor arrivals in 2025, representing a 22 per cent increase compared with 2024 figures. This figure significantly exceeded projections of 400,000 arrivals and marks a record year for tourism, reinforcing Guyana’s growing appeal as a travel destination.

“So much for nobody visiting,” Rodrigues remarked.

The Minister acknowledged that Guyana still faces challenges, such as solid waste management and urban cleanliness, which were highlighted in the controversial videos. However, she stressed that these are societal and national issues, not unique tourism problems, requiring collective effort to address.

“Solid waste management is not a tourism issue, it’s a national issue,” Rodrigues said, noting ongoing cleanup campaigns supported even by the President himself, as well as central government interventions when necessary.

Rodrigues reaffirmed the government’s commitment to improving both visitor experience and domestic civic behaviour, while pushing back against what she characterised as misrepresentations by foreign influencers.

“Guyana has much to offer,” she said. “And our record visitor numbers show the world is noticing.”