As World Tourism Day is celebrated today, September 27, Guyana Together welcomes the call by the Tourism and Hospitality Association of Guyana (THAG) for the repeal of Sections 351 to 353 of the Criminal Law (Offences) Act Chapter 8:01, which criminalise forms of consensual sex, including anal sex and same-sex intimacy. This call came as the Guyana Together campaign and THAG partnered to sensitise THAG’s members about these colonial-era laws. At a media event on Tuesday at the Guyana Marriott Hotel Georgetown, THAG’s President Omodelle George heralded the move to join with other civic groups, businesses, trade unions and private sector agencies in supporting the campaign’s call for law reform. George, in calling for all Guyanese to be treated with dignity and respect, said the country’s “laws need to be reformed to reflect these positive Guyanese values.”
Removing the discriminatory laws could result in positive growth for the local tourism industry, George predicated. “Globally, the LGBTQ+ tourism market accounts for approximately 7% to 10% of the total travel industry,” George explained. “Research by the International LGBTQ+ Travel Association (IGLTA) highlights that LGBTQ+ travellers tend to spend more per trip, visit more frequently, and participate in more activities,” she said. The THAG President pointed to the 2024 Arrival LGBTQ+ Experiences Traveller Report which explained that LGBTQ+, travellers spend 23% more per activity and engage in two more activities per trip than their non-LGBTQ+ counterparts. That report also explained the tourism market is characterised by younger travellers (ages 18-54), who are more likely to visit attractions, engage in tours, and prioritise diverse, inclusive experiences. “By alienating this market segment, Guyana is not benefiting from a potentially high-spending, high-frequency demographic,” the THAG President said.
Additionally, George pointed out that the global LGBTQ+ tourism market contributes over $200 billion annually to the travel industry and the U.S. LGBTQ+ market alone spends $65 billion annually, “assuming Guyana could capture just 1% of the global LGBTQ+ travel market, this would translate to an estimated annual tourism revenue increase of $2 billion,” the THAG President said. “If the country were to capture a modest 0.5% of the U.S. LGBTQ+ market alone, this would result in an additional $325 million in annual revenue for the tourism sector,” she added. Guyana remains one of the few CARICOM countries and only South American nation with these repressive laws, George pointed out. “We are losing potential visitors and precious tourism revenue so long as our laws criminalising LGBT people remain on the statute books,” she said. “Guyana can no longer afford to fall behind, not just because of the attractive tourism numbers and to contribute to a continuous flow as we continue to increase our national room inventory, but the simple and vital human angle of it all, is critical,” she posited.
Omodelle George
Delivering the keynote address, Akesh Gangaram, Human Resources Manager at the Guyana Marriott pointed to the economic benefits of having an inclusive tourism sector. “Research also shows that younger tourists, including Generation Y and Millennial travellers, prefer destinations that align with their values over traditional postcard destinations,” he said. Adding that “this is significant for countries that discriminate against LGBTQ+ people, as these younger tourists already account for 40% of global tourism market.” Gangaram said too that Guyana is at a turning point, as the world’s fastest-growing economy and in opening its doors to foreign investment would need to be a welcoming and inclusive destination for everyone – whether they are visiting for leisure, travelling for work, or doing business here. “To truly thrive, everyone in Guyana, including our LGBTQ+ colleagues, must ideally be free to live and work without fear or discrimination,” the Human Resources Manager said as he described the discriminatory laws as an issue that “makes Guyana less attractive.” Gangaram said too that multinational companies that are investing in Guyana are faced with added concerns regarding the safety of their LGBTQ+ employees. “Worldwide, the trend is clear: successful companies and competitive economies operate on principles of inclusion—not only because it’s the right thing to do, but also because it’s good for business,” he explained.
Amarylis Lewis, Senior Trip Planner at Wilderness Explorers, in providing a testimony identified the law as a “glaring problem” that is identified by some LGBTQ+ travellers to Guyana. “We have heard it from potential customers directly. Why would not only LGBTQ+ people – but other allies who have LGBTQ+ friends and family – want to travel to a country with laws on the books that criminalise who someone loves?” Lewis said. The company continues to work with LGBTQ+ travellers who Lewis said have visited Guyana and “had a wonderful experience – raving about the natural wonders and kind hospitality of our country.” “It’s time for Guyana to finally send a signal to the rest of the world that we are the inclusive and hospitable place that we know ourselves to be. That everyone is welcome to experience the wonders of Guyana, and share in our many cultures,” she added, in calling for the repeal of the country’s anti-gay laws.
Tuesday’s event also included a roundtable discussion with THAG’s members on the “Impact of Guyana’s Current Laws on LGBTQ+ Travel and the Potential Economic Benefits of Decriminalising Same-Sex Intimacy” which featured contributions from Melanie McTurk, General Manager at Karanambu Lodge and Chairperson of the Protected Areas Trust; Adrienne Galanek, Deputy Chief of Mission at US Embassy; and Captain Daniel Seeram, J.P., Regional Chairperson, RDC Region # 4. The roundtable was moderated by Joel Simpson, Managing Director of SASOD Guyana, and Nazima Raghubir, President of the Guyana Press Association.
Launched in September 2023, the Guyana Together campaign is a grassroots effort to increase acceptance levels among Guyanese and reduce the level of stigma and prejudice for LGBTQ Guyanese. The campaign is led by the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI), Black Entrepreneurs Association (BEA), Guyana Press Association (GPA) and SASOD Guyana.
Livestream: https://www.youtube.com/live/RlR855C80ag?si=sKZMSOgLq2KL5S8j