The Tourism and Hospitality Association of Guyana (THAG) and the Suriname Hotel and Tourism Association (SHATA) today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at strengthening tourism ties.
The official signing took place at a simple ceremony hosted at the Roraima Duke Lodge in Georgetown.
The MoU sets the stage for knowledge exchange, support, and mutual growth between Guyana and Suriname, and provides a framework for identifying opportunities, addressing challenges, and enhancing tourism and hospitality destinations.
In delivering remarks at the ceremony, THAG President Mitra Ramkumar said the MoU is more than an agreement, but a movement towards unlocking the true tourism potential of both countries.
“The spirit of this agreement, I can say with confidence that both sides have a very strong passion for developing the tourism industry in the region. While we have a signed agreement, I believe we have much more than that. In the essence, we have people that are 200 per cent committed to this industry,” he noted.
Ambassador of Suriname to Guyana Liselle Blankendal, in her remarks, said the MoU will open up a host of opportunities between the two countries, noting that it is a shared commitment to unlocking cross-border tourism.
“This signing of the MoU not only signifies the strengthening of the bilateral ties, but we are opening also, new doors, new opportunities for our people, our cultures and of course our economies,” she related.
Marketing Coordinator of THAG, Beaunce Atkinson, said Guyana and Suriname not only share a geographic border, but a rich history shaped by cultural diversity and common values — including elements of Dutch colonial heritage and a commitment to sustainable tourism development.
She added that the partnership reaffirms the shared belief that collaboration is key to unlocking greater opportunities — from improving connectivity and boosting visitor flows to supporting tourism entrepreneurs and strengthening overall competitiveness.
Over the past two days, a delegation from SHATA had the opportunity to experience some of Guyana’s tourism offerings, including a site visit to the Blue Ridge Hotel, which is presently under construction, and tourism attractions along the Essequibo River.
