Dagron Tours and Wilderness Explorers issued conditional approval to reopen

– GTA established as main approval body for indoor dining at restaurants

The Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA) is happy to announce that Dagron Tours and Wilderness Explorers have both been inspected and granted their conditional approval, which is tied to the National COVID-19 measures and GTA’s recommended Hygiene and Sanitation Protocols and can now commence welcoming travellers to their offices and hosting them on tours. This brings the total to 15 tourism businesses that have received conditional approval to  reopen  and  are  marked  as  Safe for Travel since December 1, 2020.

Director of the GTA, Ms. Carla James expressed that, “the strides our industry has made towards reopening is most definitely noteworthy. It is my belief that the businesses that have already received their conditional letters of approval and are benefitting from the Safe for Travel marketing campaign will serve as a form of encouragement to other businesses to reassure them that as long as they take the necessary steps and implement the stipulated measures, they too will be able to reopen.”

Domestic and international travellers are recommended to use only GTA approved tourism businesses to book and plan their tour activities. These businesses that have been granted their conditional approval are reminded to maintain the protocols as outlined by the Guyana Tourism Authority and the National Gazetted safety measures. Failure to adhere to these measures will result in the revocation of the conditional approval tied to the COVID-19 measures.

GTA to Approve 40% capacity indoor dining at restaurants

The amendment to the COVID-19 National Safety Measures gazette made on January 13, 2021 allows indoor dining at restaurants at 40% capacity but only with the approval of the Guyana Tourism Authority. Monitoring and inspecting restaurants to ensure that all COVID-19 protocols as stipulated by the Ministry of Health are in place before they are allowed to offer indoor dining will fall strictly under the purview of the GTA with support from the Mayor and City Council, Ministry of Health and the Regional Health Offices. Restaurants must modify indoor spaces to allow for ‘socially distanced’ seating allotments and follow other guidelines set out to meet the requirements and apply to the GTA for the conditional approval to reopen for this purpose. Approved restaurants will be marked with official signage provided by the GTA indicating that they have been safely reopened for indoor dining and the maximum capacity that is permitted to dine.  Restaurants that fail to adhere to the stipulated measures as outlined by the Guyana Tourism Authority and the National Gazetted safety measures will be subject to immediate closure for a period of one month.

The process for this approval will follow the same 2-step process as the conditional approval of the reopening of tourism businesses outlined below:

• Submission of a business’s written Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to the GTA for a desk review.
• On-site inspection of businesses to verify the implementation of the SOPs and conditional approval by the GTA.

Businesses that already have their internal SOP template are required to submit these which must clearly outline the specific hygiene and sanitation protocols in place. Inspections are scheduled to commence on Saturday, January 16, 2021.

As a reminder, Tourism Accommodation Establishments (Hotels) are required to also adhere to the process to be listed as “Safe for Travel” and are encouraged to submit their Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to Micheala Lindore (+592-696-8959), Tourism Business Support Officer within the GTA at   micheala@guyanatourism.com and copy Carla James, Director of the GTA at  carla@guyanatourism.com. A template developed by the GTA, is available for guidance here. This will form the basis of the desk review and on-site inspection. Additional supporting documents for the general GTA licence can also be submitted to ensure that businesses are officially licensed and “Safe for Travel” tourism business.

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About the  Guyana  Tourism  Authority:  The  Guyana  Tourism  Authority  (GTA)  is a semi-autonomous governmental organisation responsible for developing and promoting sustainable tourism in Guyana through collaboration with sister agencies and the tourism private sector in order to maximise local socio-economic and conservation outcomes and improve the travellers’ experience. The GTA is focused on Guyana becoming recognised locally and internationally as a premier destination for protecting its natural and cultural heritage, providing authentic experiences, and maximising local socio-economic benefits.