Recent Posts
January 16, 2026
January 16, 2026
January 16, 2026
The local and regional tourism community is mourning the death of Donald Sinclair, a longtime tourism advocate, educator and public-sector leader whose work helped shape the direction of Guyana’s tourism sector for more than three decades.
The Tourism and Hospitality Association of Guyana (THAG) on Friday expressed profound sadness at his passing, describing Sinclair as a central figure in the development of modern tourism policy, training and community-based initiatives in Guyana.
Sinclair brought more than 35 years of experience in tourism and hospitality across local, regional and international spheres. In 2015, he was appointed Director-General of the Department of Tourism by then Minister of Tourism Cathy Hughes, assuming office on October 1 of that year. Before that appointment, he served as an adviser to several Ministers of Tourism and was widely credited with helping to advance policy formulation, strategic planning and institutional development within the sector.
Beyond public service, Sinclair was also a dedicated educator whose influence extended well beyond Guyana.
He lectured at universities in Guyana, the United States and Canada, and served as a Senior Lecturer in Sustainable Tourism Management. He also contributed to regional capacity-building efforts as a lecturer and Director at the Suriname Hospitality and Tourism Training School. His academic work included several research articles on tourism published in international journals and professional publications.
Colleagues said that while Sinclair was respected for his policy and academic work, he was equally committed to practical, community-focused tourism development. During his tenure at the Ministry of Tourism, he initiated and oversaw a number of programmes aimed at strengthening local participation in the industry and diversifying tourism products.
Among these was the Coconut Festival, a community-based and product-development initiative that highlighted the links between agro-tourism, cultural heritage and small enterprise, while encouraging greater community involvement in tourism activities.
THAG said Sinclair’s career was marked by a consistent effort to bridge education, policy and on-the-ground development, helping to build a more inclusive and sustainable tourism sector.
“His legacy is one of vision, mentorship and service,” the association said in a statement, noting that generations of students, professionals and community stakeholders benefited from his guidance and leadership.
THAG extended condolences to Sinclair’s family, colleagues, former students and the wider tourism community, saying his contributions to Guyana and regional tourism would be remembered with respect and gratitude.
