Guyana is intensifying efforts to tackle littering through public education and stronger enforcement, recognising that environmental responsibility is essential to protecting the country’s natural assets and sustaining its growing tourism industry.

Director of the Guyana Tourism Authority, Kamrul Baksh, identified littering as a longstanding challenge requiring coordinated action, as he addressed the media on Thursday during the State of the Tourism Industry Conference (SOTIC) at the Atlantic Suites by Hyatt in Kingston, Georgetown.

“The trash problem that we speak about globally, it is a problem and it is something that we at the government level are intervening on,” he said.

He pointed to a shift in public attitudes but stressed that sustained progress depends on combining awareness with accountability. Enforcement measures, including fines for persons caught littering, are among the strategies being pursued to address the issue.

Baksh noted that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has also begun sharing video footage identifying individuals responsible for littering, reinforcing the importance of personal responsibility in keeping public spaces clean.

“Previously, this would be entirely filthy and littered, but it is two things. It is one on the education part and I think very importantly the enforcement of it,” he explained.

The intervention comes as Guyana continues to expand its tourism offerings, placing greater importance on preserving the pristine rainforests, wildlife, rivers and cultural heritage that distinguish the destination.

Director Baksh outlined the country’s tourism performance and development priorities during the final day of the conference, held under the theme “Tourism Futures: Smart, Sustainable, and Inclusive.”

He reported that Guyana welcomed close to half a million visitors in the previous year, marking a record for the country, while arrivals between January and September 2026 continued to demonstrate strong momentum.

The sector’s expansion is being supported by increased air connectivity, investment in accommodation and a growing market for meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions.

Guyana has hosted more than 20 conferences and exhibitions this year, attracting over 20,000 attendees, including more than 12,000 visitors travelling specifically for conferences.

Baksh said the country must build on these gains while ensuring that tourism growth does not compromise the environmental integrity that makes Guyana attractive to visitors.

With approximately 80 per cent of the country covered by rainforest, Guyana’s natural environment remains central to its tourism product. Indigenous communities also play a defining role through community-based tourism, where residents own and manage tourism assets, operate businesses and reinvest earnings into their communities.

“The communities own the land, they own the assets, they run the business, they control the profits, they reinvest the profits, so that is a distinct feature,” Baksh said.

The Guyana Tourism Authority is also advancing sustainability standards across the industry, building on Guyana’s recognition at the conference for its sustainability practices. He said the country had demonstrated 60 per cent compliance with the relevant green practices and was working to extend certification across accommodation providers and tour operators.

Meanwhile, the Authority is pursuing a broader tourism strategy that includes diversifying source markets, improving regional and international connectivity, and developing opportunities in adventure, cultural immersion, sports tourism, health and wellness, and agritourism.

The country is also preparing a national tourism policy to guide the sector over the next five years, informed by consultations and lessons from other destinations.

As Guyana positions itself for greater international tourism growth, tackling littering and promoting responsible behaviour will be critical to ensuring that its natural and cultural assets remain protected for future generations.

The State of the Tourism Industry Conference, organised by the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO), brought together government representatives, private sector leaders, researchers, innovators, media professionals, students and young people to examine the future of Caribbean tourism.