Seven guides from the Rupununi have received local bird guide accreditation, while 12 coastal guides have completed the first phase of certification, as Guyana works to develop birdwatching as a specialised tourism experience.

The 19 guides were recognised on Friday, September 25, at an event hosted by the Guyana Tourism Authority and the South Rupununi Conservation Society.

Guyana Tourism Authority Director Kamrul Baksh said the initiative grew out of a gap in the existing tour guide licensing system: a licence does not, by itself, show whether a guide has specialist knowledge.

“We quickly recognised that while you can become licensed, we must be able to distinguish guides that are not only licensed, but those that have a specialisation,” he said. Birding was chosen because of its potential as a tourism niche in Guyana.

The South Rupununi Conservation Society contributed technical expertise to the training modules, while the tourism authority managed the project.

Tourism Minister Susan Rodrigues said a bird guide’s job involves more than identifying species. Guides also help visitors understand the wetlands, forests, savannahs and coastal habitats where the birds live.

“You’re helping someone understand your country, showing them why a habitat matters and helping them appreciate the richness of our natural heritage,” Rodrigues said.

With more than 800 bird species identified in Guyana, the programme aims to give guides the specialist skills to share that experience with visitors. The tourism authority has not yet said when the 12 coastal guides could complete the remaining phases of certification.