Tourism authority welcomes nine new tourist guides

As part of its strategy to improve its customer service and overall operations, the Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA) recently added nine newly-licensed tourist guides to its ranks.

In a release yesterday, the GTA listed the guides, who were inducted this month, as: Delven Adams, Rovin Alvin, Bhagwandas Balkaran, Kenneth Butler, Quadad DeFreitas, Cain Edwards, Ruffino Davis Edwards, Johan Paul, and Vivian Smith.

Part of the stipulations for licensing included training in First Aid/CPR precautionary and emergency measures. Through this training, participants will be able to implement a coordinated response in emergency scenarios which will ultimately build confidence to respond to incidents where time is of the essence, significantly reducing the potential for fatalities. In addition to it being mandatory to improve their overall operations to ensure the health and safety of their guests, this training, the GTA says, is pivotal now more than ever.

According to the Authority, based on the GTA Regulations of 2008; Tourism Accommodation Establishments, Tour Operators, Tourist Guides, and Interior Lodges and Resorts, are required to have a Guyana Tourism Authority Licence to operate or can be fined by the Authority for not being in compliance with the associated regulations. The fees associated with this process, along with GTA-led training programmes, have since been waived for a period of six months, ending September 2020, in light of the COVID19 pandemic.

The nine guides have benefitted from the waiver of fees.

The GTA in keeping with its COVID-19 Resiliency Strategy assures its commitment to providing the utmost support to the sector during these trying times.

Persons requiring additional information may contact Kamrul Baksh, Manager of Product Development within the Travel Industry Development and Operations Division at kamrul@guyanatourism.com.