Guyana featured in National Geographic Traveler magazine

Guyana is once again in the international spotlight for its unique tourism product. The country has been featured in an article entitled “50 tours of a lifetime” in the National Geographic Traveler magazine.

In the April edition, “Destination Guyana” was featured among the best tours in Central and South America, the Tourism Ministry said in a release.

The focus of the piece on Guyana was the 16-day trip offered by Wilderness Explorers, which introduces visitors to “the rich culture and pristine environment of Guyana” in places like Surama, Rewa, Nappi, and Yupukari in the Rupununi.

Additionally, featured in that edition of National Geographic’s Traveler magazine 2011, in a list of the “Best Hotels in South America”, is Surama Village Eco-Lodge in North Rupununi.

Tourism, Industry and Commerce Minister Manniram Prashad said this is certainly an indication of our growing tourism industry, and that it speaks to the magnitude of our destination.

Prashad said Guyana is certainly on the tourism map and continues to attract more and more attention with its immense potential for ecological, nature and adventure tourism.

Prashad opined that exposures such as this will help raise the destination profile and create more awareness for Guyana.

He said this is part of his ministry and the Guyana Tourism Authority’s aggressive strategy to create more awareness about Guyana’s tourism product, and they will continue to encourage and attract more international travel writers, filming crews, and host familiarization tours.

He said that, for this year, Guyana has been featured in regional and international publications such as Caribbean Beat, Perceptive Travel Online Magazine (Humble in the Jungle – Exploring Guyana’s Rainforest) by Laurie Gough; “Kaieteur – Guyana is the New Amazon” in UK Stylist Magazine: 2011 Hottest Destinations; the Scotsman Travel by John Gimlette; and CNN article “Adventures of the female Indiana Jones”, which mentioned Guyana.

Also, Travel Channel aired an episode on Guyana, called “The Wild Within – Guyana”, as part of their TV series in early 2011.

The 45-minute piece shows host Steven Renella on his lifelong journey to reconnect with the wild within. He went on an expedition along the Rewa River.

Minister Prashad reminded that Guyana has already been featured and highlighted through shows like the British Broadcasting Corporation’s (BBC) three-part series, “The Lost Land of the Jaguar”, and popular United States reality television show “Reel and Birding Adventures”. Also, in October, a BBC 10-part series called “Serious Explorers Raleigh”, retracing the footsteps of Sir Walter Raleigh in his search for the fabled City of Gold El Dorado, is expected to be released. Popular British film producer and creative director Russell Malkin has a new book called ‘101 Amazing Adventures of the World’, which has been released with Guyana’s majestic Kaieteur Falls featured prominently on its cover, he said. Prashad said the tourism industry has a lot to be happy about, as Guyana will be hosting STC- 13 next April, and Guyana’s Surama recently copped the Caribbean Excellence in Sustainable Tourism Award jointly with Harrison’s Cave.

Also, earlier this month, a group of Trinidad and Tobago travel writers and tour operators came on a familiarisation (FAM) trip to Guyana. Guyana has also been featured and highlighted already in various popular international publications, like the Daily Telegraph, Americas Magazine, Wanderlust Magazine, Birdwatch Magazine, Travel Mail, and Lime Magazine.