The Tourism and Hospitality Association of Guyana (THAG) has relaunched the Tourism Development Fund (TDF), a voluntary, industry-led initiative aimed at strengthening the country’s tourism sector.
The relaunch took place last Thursday during THAG’s members’ meeting at Cara Lodge. The fund allows visitors to make a small, optional contribution during their stay, with proceeds pooled and reinvested in projects supporting product development, marketing, and capacity building across the sector.
Originally launched in 2015, the TDF supported initiatives including Bird Trail signage at the Botanical Gardens, server training programmes, early digital tourism initiatives, and COVID-19 relief support for operators. THAG said these efforts demonstrated the tangible benefits of coordinated industry contributions.
The fund is overseen by a committee drawn from both the public and private sectors. It is chaired by Parmesar Accountants Managing Director Harryram Parmesar and includes Guyana Tourism Authority Director Kamrul Baksh, Guyana National Trust CEO Nirvana Persaud-Ramdyal, THAG President Mitra Ramkumar, and THAG Treasurer Lorenzo Persaud.
At the relaunch, THAG announced the first group of tourism operators to join the renewed fund, including Ramada Georgetown Princess Hotel, Air Dash, Trail Masters Adventures, Outdoor Expeditions, Wilderness Explorers, Herdmanston Lodge, Cara Lodge, and Arrow Point Nature Resort.
THAG said priority areas under consideration for the fund include training and capacity building, tourism site management and asset protection, customer service initiatives, and sector-wide product development.
The association said the relaunch reflects a renewed commitment by industry stakeholders to collaborate in building a more competitive, resilient, and sustainable tourism sector in Guyana.
