Guyana Tourism Authority

What Guyana Tourism Authority does

Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA) is a semi-autonomous governmental organization established in 2002 and operating under Guyana's Ministry of Business. It holds statutory responsibility for developing, regulating, and promoting sustainable tourism in Guyana, exercising authority granted under the 2008 Tourism Authority Regulations. GTA licenses and oversees tour operators, curates the country's destination brand, and coordinates international marketing efforts. Its mandate covers wildlife, birding, cultural, adventure, and community-based tourism segments, leveraging Guyana's 87% intact forest cover, unique biodiversity, and the cultural assets of nine Indigenous Peoples.

GTA's core product surface is the guyanatourism.com portal, which functions as a destination marketing, booking, and licensing platform. The portal exposes more than 60 curated tourism experiences, a licensed operator directory, an events calendar, an online operator licensing workflow, and 360° virtual tours for pre-arrival destination familiarization. Supporting products include event-led marketing activations such as the Cricket Carnival and commemorative content such as the 2026 Diamond Jubilee Calendar tied to Guyana's 50th independence anniversary. The underlying technology stack is a standard CMS-based website with embedded virtual tour media, a booking interface, and a licensing portal, without disclosed AI or machine-learning capabilities.

GTA's revenue mechanics combine government budget allocations from the Ministry of Business with licensing and registration fees collected from tourism operators under the 2008 Regulations. Its go-to-market model combines direct-to-consumer digital marketing with trade-channel distribution, supplemented by retained North American market representation firms (Emerging Destinations and CornerSun) and partnerships with conservation organizations including Conservation International, WWF, and Iwokrama. Customer segments are international leisure tourists and the licensed domestic operator supply base, rather than named enterprise accounts.

Name

Guyana Tourism Authority

Legal name

Guyana Tourism Authority

Website

https://www.guyanatourism.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2002

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Guyana Tourism Authority is a semi-autonomous government agency that regulates and markets Guyana as a sustainable tourism destination, licensing tour operators and operating the guyanatourism.com portal to serve international visitors and the domestic operator base.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

National Tourism Authority / Destination Marketing

NAICS

Convention and Visitors Bureaus (561591), Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (71219)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Community-Based & Indigenous Tourism Enablement (Local Ownership, Benefit-Sharing) (THAAANAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Community-Based & Indigenous-Led Ecotourism (THAAAEAH), Rainforest & Jungle Ecotourism Tours (THAAAEAF), Eco-Certification, Auditing & Standards (Green Lodging, Tour Operator Certification) (THAAANAA)

Keywords

• Destination marketing
• Ecotourism promotion
• Tourism operator licensing
• Travel trade services
• Sustainable tourism development

Headquarters

HQ city

Georgetown

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Government Funding: The GTA operates under the Ministry of Business as a semi-autonomous governmental organization, funded by government budget allocations to develop and promote sustainable tourism
2. Licensing Fees: Revenue from licensing tourism operators, guides, accommodation establishments, and tour operators under The Guyana Tourism Authority Regulations of 2008
3. Tourism Industry Contribution: Tourism is estimated to be a US$123 million industry in Guyana, generating thousands of jobs and serving as a key export industry and economic driver

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Guyana Tourism Authority is a semi-autonomous governmental organization that develops and promotes sustainable tourism in Guyana. It markets the country as a destination through the official GuyanaTourism.com portal, licenses and regulates tourism operators and guides under The Guyana Tourism Authority Regulations of 2008, and facilitates visitor access to attractions, eco-lodges, and Indigenous community experiences. Its offering centers on destination marketing, tourism operator licensing, and travel trade support for Guyana's biodiversity, cultural heritage, and adventure experiences.

Product overview

The Guyana Tourism Authority operates GuyanaTourism.com as a unified tourism portal combining informational content, virtual experiences, and booking capabilities. The platform encompasses the core tourism portal with integrated features including Virtual Tours (360-degree experiences), an Online Booking System for itineraries and reservations, Events Calendars (including the 2026 Diamond Jubilee Calendar), a Licensed Tour Operators Directory, and a B2B Travel Trade Portal for industry professionals. Together these offerings provide both consumer-facing trip planning services and B2B support for Guyana's tourism industry.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• GuyanaTourism.com Official Tourism Portal Official destination marketing and trip-planning portal of the Guyana Tourism Authority, providing comprehensive travel information including attractions, accommodations, activities, travel guidelines, events calendar, virtual tours, and integration with the online booking engine for visitors planning trips to Guyana.
• Online Tourism Licensing Portal License management system for tourism operators, guides, and accommodation establishments operating in Guyana, administered under The Guyana Tourism Authority Regulations of 2008. Used by industry operators to obtain and renew licenses to legally operate in Guyana.
• Travel Trade Portal B2B resource platform providing training, licensing information, marketing support, and product development resources for tourism industry professionals and licensed tour operators selling Guyana as a destination.
• Virtual Tours Standalone 360° immersive virtual tour experiences of Guyana's iconic attractions including Georgetown City Tour, St. George's Cathedral, Markets, and Kaieteur Falls, allowing prospective visitors to explore destinations remotely before booking travel.
• Licensed Tour Operators Directory Public registry of officially licensed and regulated tourism operators, guides, accommodations, and service providers meeting safety and quality standards set by the Guyana Tourism Authority. Used by travelers and travel trade to identify vetted operators.
• EPA Filming Permit Services Permitting service for film, documentary, and commercial production companies requiring access to Guyana's protected areas. Includes a US$75 EPA application fee, US$40 late application fee within 3 months of filming, and a US$750 permit fee upon issuance.
• Protected Areas Commission Access Services Access and visitor management services for Guyana's protected areas including Kaieteur National Park, with structured fees such as Tour Guide Fee (GY$4,500 per group) and Landing Fee (GY$3,000 per person at Kaieteur National Park).

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and secondary.

• Conservation International GuyanacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKey conservation partner supporting the development of sustainable tourism that maximizes positive socio-economic outcomes and conservation projects in Guyana
• Department of EnvironmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment partner for environmental protection and sustainable development of Guyana's natural resources
• Iwokrama International CentrecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-development partner for rainforest conservation and sustainable tourism experiences in the Iwokrama Rainforest Reserve
• Protected Areas CommissioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment body responsible for protected areas including Kaieteur National Park, collaborating on film permits and visitor management
• World Wildlife Fund GuianascoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerConservation partner supporting wildlife protection efforts including giant river otter rehabilitation and arapaima conservation
• North Rupununi District Development BoardcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity development organization representing indigenous communities in the North Rupununi region, supporting community-led tourism initiatives
• South Rupununi Conservation SocietycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndigenous-led conservation organization involved in protecting the endangered Red Siskin and supporting wildlife tourism
• Tourism and Hospitality Association of GuyanacoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorIndustry association representing tourism businesses, providing voice for private sector tourism development
• Visit RupununisecondaryChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRegional tourism organization promoting the Rupununi region including South and North Rupununi savannahs and indigenous communities
• Department of TourismcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerParent government ministry responsible for tourism policy, working with GTA on national tourism development
• Ministry of Indigenous People's AffairscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment ministry supporting indigenous communities involved in tourism, issuing permits for visits to indigenous villages
• Emerging DestinationscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerMarket representation partner contracted to strengthen and expand Guyana's distribution networks in North American core and investment markets. Contact: Ms. Jane Behrend, [email protected]
• CornerSun Destination Marketing LLCcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerMarket representation partner contracted to strengthen and expand Guyana's distribution networks in North American markets. Contact: Mr. David DiGregorio, [email protected]
• Dagron TourssecondaryChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTour operator providing Rum Route experiences including day and overnight tours of Demerara Distillers Ltd and heritage rum experiences
• Wilderness ExplorerssecondaryChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAdventure tour operator offering Kaieteur Falls tours, river experiences, and sustainable tourism experiences throughout Guyana

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/discoverguyana
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@GTAGuyana
• Facebookfacebook.com/GuyanaUndiscovered
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/guyana-tourism-authority
• Instagraminstagram.com/discoverguyana
• TikToktiktok.com/@discoverguyana

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Guyana Tourism Authority