GEORGETOWN, Guyana – The draft for the Caribbean’s first agritourism policy and roadmap was unveiled on Friday, following extensive discussions.
Minister of Agriculture Zulfikar Mustapha.The document, compiled by the Ministry of Agriculture in collaboration with the Ministry of Tourism, Industry and Commerce and the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA), provides a strategic framework for funding and developing Guyana’s emerging agritourism sector.
The initiative is expected to open numerous development and employment opportunities for farmers, small businesses, and rural communities.
Minister of Agriculture Zulfikar Mustapha, who attended a national stakeholder meeting on Friday, said the advancement of the agritourism sector will significantly aid in furthering Guyana’s economic growth in non-oil sectors.
“The development in the agritourism sector and the development of an agritourism roadmap and policies is not just another initiative. It’s a bold vision for the future of Guyana,” he said.
Even though the policy was recently drafted, over the years the government has been investing in enhancing agritourism experiences including the construction of ecolodges.
Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, Oneidge Walrond, said Guyana already has the necessary resources and locations to offer enjoyable agritourism experiences on par with international standards.
“Right here at home we have been seeing what agritourism can do. The Rupununi rodeo is coming out of cattle farming and we’ve seen the attraction…. People are looking for these kinds of authentic experiences,” she said.
Beyond leveraging Guyana’s abundant agritourism assets, the policy aims to increase investments, create job opportunities, foster sustainable practices, and boost local food production.
