tourism stakeholders hope for repercussions

In the Native American village of Favard, located on the outskirts of Roura, women artisans prepare the products that they will present to tourists.

In the coming days, nearly 400 cruise passengers will come to discover Favard. Two cruise ships dock in Guyana in two weeks.

Watch the report from Guyane La 1ère:

Cruise ships in Guyana: the expectations of local stakeholders

At Favard, the tables are covered in handmade jewelry. “There are necklaces made with all kinds of seeds: red and black panacoco, bull's eye, thunder seeds, flamboyant seeds”, lists one of the female artisans

This Native American village is one of the excursions offered to tourists from the two cruise ships. The Exploris One has been at the Port de Dégrad in Cannes since yesterday, Tuesday, and Club Med will arrive next week.

“Economically speaking, these cruise lines will bring to the village, and this also allows us to promote our culture outside,” remarks Francky Joan, resident of the village of Favard and tourist operator.

We had a meeting with the traditional chief to set up these craft activities. The village has been open to tourists for a long time, but today it will bring much more to our artisans.

Francky Joan, resident of the village of Favard and tourist operator

In the long term, Francky Joan also hopes that village residents can develop and perhaps professionalize their know-how. “Maybe one day a young person will open a business,” he adds.

Other cruise ships could dock in Guyana in the coming months. The destination is the dream of some adventurers.

“We have been waiting for a cruise leaving from Guyana for a long time”enthuses Edith Mendes Penedo, agency manager at Havas Voyages.

We hope that this will attract other cruise passengers to benefit Guyanese. It is also an opportunity to promote local excursions.

Edith Mendes Penedo, agency manager at Havas Voyages

With several days of stopover for cruise passengers, Guyana will have to offer a range of activities. “The objective for us now is to develop this cruise sector in Guyana, because most cruise lines seek innovation with adventure, the Amazon, culture, gastronomy, and Guyana is rich in all its diversities”underlines Samantha Sébéloué, tourism promotion technician at the Tourist Office.

For the first cruise circuits, the two tourism companies, Exploris and Club Med, are already showing good occupancy rates, between 60 and 80%. The Exploris One will leave Guyana in seven days. Club Med, the largest sailboat in the world, will arrive next week.