Young people from more than 15 communities across Region Eight are being encouraged to explore tourism as a pathway to entrepreneurship, employment and sustainable community development, following the inaugural Regional Youth Conference held in Kato.
The initiative was led by the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs, under the theme “Voices for Tomorrow: Entrepreneurship, Policy Development and Empowerment.”
The two-day conference brought together young people and representatives from several key institutions, including the University of Guyana, the Board of Industrial Training, the Guyana Defence Force and Guyana Tourism Authority.
One key engagement at the conference was a Tourism Awareness Session, giving participants greater insight into the opportunities available in the sector while encouraging them to identify the tourism potential within their own communities.
GTA’s Product Development Officer Lisa Williams described the initiative as particularly significant given the region’s remote location and unique tourism assets.
“I do believe it was a groundbreaking initiative… being able to reach out to more than 15 communities and have a very interactive session, to hear from them what their ideas are and what they think, and then at the same time teach them about what tourism could be and what it could do for them,” she noted.
The engagement comes as the GTA continues efforts to develop a tourism circuit in Region Eight by identifying communities with unique attractions and determining how they can be connected to create more comprehensive visitor experiences.
Region Eight’s mountainous terrain, waterfalls, forests and Indigenous heritage present significant opportunities for nature, adventure, cultural and culinary tourism.
For remote communities where access to traditional economic opportunities can be challenging, development of tourism can provide an additional source of employment and income while stimulating demand for locally produced goods and services.
The approach also promotes community participation and ownership, allowing residents to determine how their culture, traditions and natural resources are presented to visitors.
The wider conference provided Region Eight youths with direct access to national institutions and information on education, skills training, employment and personal development opportunities.
The Guyana Passport Office also provided services during the conference, allowing residents to apply for passports on-site and receive their documents the following day, reducing the need to travel outside the region to access the service.
The initiative is expected to strengthen awareness among Region Eight’s youth about opportunities available to them while encouraging them to become active participants in the economic development of their communities.