The future of tourism in Upper Demerara-Berbice remains bright as the Region Ten Tourism Committee (RTTC) celebrates the graduation of its second cohort of tourism ambassadors. Launched in March 2024, the program is enhancing skills, building confidence, and creating new opportunities for people in communities across the Region.
With funding from the Greater Guyana Initiative (GGI), the program offers local tourism operators and service providers free, practical, hands-on training in key areas essential to the tourism sector. These include social media marketing and content creation, mixology, tour guiding, housekeeping, front-desk operations, and Spanish for business, introduced in response to the growing number of Spanish-speaking guests visiting the region.
At its core, the program is raising the standard of tourism services in Region 10. By equipping tour operators and hospitality workers with essential skills, it is creating warmer, more professional, and more memorable experiences for visitors, whether they’re discovering the region for the first time or returning for another adventure.
This second graduating cohort brings the project closer to its goal of training 300 tourism workers and service providers with 120 people graduating. As participants grow, so too does the capacity of the RTTC, strengthening its ability to lead tourism development with confidence and long-term vision.
According to Esha Jacobis, who recently completed the Tour Guiding and Conflict Resolution course, “The Tour Guide training has been very important to me, seeing that I have a love for tourism and one day want to be a tour operator.”
Similar sentiments were echoed by Yumona Fraser who successfully completed the housekeeping course, detailing that she quickly learnt that housekeeping goes far beyond keeping the place tidy, noting that it also addresses mental health and the importance of a strong safety culture. Fraser said, “We have to be prepared, and I think the Region Ten Tourism Committee is doing a wonderful job by bringing all these programs, and I encourage people to get on board.”
Better service leads to better visitors’ experiences, which in turn drives retention and ultimately fosters economic growth and improved livelihoods for residents. This is why the program matters; its impact reaches far beyond the training room. Skilled and confident service providers create happier visitors, stronger retention, and new economic opportunities for region 10. Every improved interaction, every well-prepared meal, every welcoming smile, and every expertly guided tour strengthens the region’s growing tourism identity.
As this new group steps forward, they carry with them the pride of a region rich in culture, history, and natural beauty, ready to help shape a brighter future for the country’s tourism sector.
