A pivotal moment in sustainable tourism development was achieved on February 20th, when the Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA) and the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), through the EU-Funded Sustainable Forest Livelihoods (SFL) Programme, signed a grant agreement valued at GYD$36 million to enhance community-led and nature-based tourism initiatives in two of the SFL’s priority regions: Regions 2 and 10.
The signing ceremony, held at the WWF office in Georgetown, was graced by the Minister of Tourism, Industry & Commerce, Honourable Susan Rodrigues, the EU Ambassador Luca Pierantoni, alongside Director of the Guyana Tourism Authority, Kamrul Baksh, and the WWF Conservation Director, Ms Aiesha Williams.
The initiative, which will run from March 2026 to December 2026, is designed to support emerging opportunities for tourism committees to promote sustainable tourism, aligning with Guyana's commitment to maintaining the health of its forests, while supporting local livelihoods.
Minister Rodrigues expressed her support for the initiative, delivering a charge to all present: "This approach aligns with our broader national vision for tourism, one that connects conservation with livelihoods. Guyana’s high forest cover is not a barrier to development; it is our competitive advantage. Through initiatives like SFL, we are demonstrating that economic growth and environmental stewardship can move forward together."
Ambassador Pierantoni highlighted the European Union's commitment to fostering sustainable tourism initiatives that benefit both local communities and the environment. He stated, “The EU is proud to support this initiative, in line with the government’s commitment to low-impact tourism models, strong environmental safeguards, and community-led enterprise development. These are precisely the ingredients required to ensure that tourism growth does not compromise forest integrity but instead reinforces it. The future of global tourism belongs to destinations that protect what makes them special.”
With WWF’s commitment to fostering multi-stakeholder collaboration, the grant ensures that local communities actively participate in and benefit from the developing tourism landscape. The selected beneficiaries will receive guidance and support to embed their initiatives within a broader institutional framework, thereby enhancing the potential for durable, scalable impacts.
Ms Aiesha Williams, in her remarks, highlighted the importance of collaboration: “This grant will not only strengthen tourism development among local actors in these regions, but will also enhance the overall tourism product and foster initiatives that support forest conservation and community wellbeing across the Regions.”
Pierre Bourguignon, Country Representative of AFD (Agence Française de Développement, the implementing partner on the SFL Programme), participated in the event via Zoom and provided brief remarks, stating that “Nature-based tourism emerged as a priority pathway where investments from the SFL programme could deliver real impact.” He further said, “The signing of this agreement between the Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA) and WWF within the SFL framework may seem modest at first glance, but it marks a significant milestone in a longer journey of strategic preparation and partnership. The EU, AFD, and WWF-Guianas, backed by technical assistance, collaborated closely to foster this engagement with the GTA, ensuring alignment with broader conservation and sustainable development goals."
Key activities under this grant will include developing nature-based tourism products, operational management, and destination marketing strategies, with a strong focus on enhancing digital tourism platforms and aligning with national tourism strategies to ensure the vision for community-led nature-based tourism is realised.
