The Iwokrama International Centre for Rain Forest Conservation and Development (Iwokrama) has confirmed that the Iwokrama River Lodge has retained its Good Travel Seal Certification, following a recent assessment under the Good Travel Experiences framework developed by the Good Travel Alliance.
The Good Travel Seal recognizes tourism experiences that generate tangible benefits for local people and communities, while ensuring that impacts on nature, culture, and the climate are kept lower than comparable tourism activities. The retention of this certification affirms Iwokrama River Lodge’s continued commitment to responsible, community-centred, and environmentally sustainable tourism.
The Iwokrama River Lodge remains one of Guyana’s leading examples of a tourism operation that successfully integrates conservation, community livelihoods, and visitor experiences within a protected rainforest landscape. The certification provides third-party validation that the Lodge’s operations align with internationally recognised good practices for sustainable tourism and destination stewardship.
Iwokrama’s Chief Executive Officer, Dane Gobin, noted that “I am very pleased that the Centre has been able to maintain this accolade. It is a testament to the premier tourism service that the has consistently delivered to its guests over the years. We have exciting announcements for 2026 including a closer working relations with the Ministry of Tourism to further promote community tourism products in the North Rupununi. Special thanks to our dedicated staff and community partners, the NRDDB who have supported the Centre in this achievement”.
The Good Travel Experience assessment evaluates tourism activities against criteria that include local economic contribution, cultural respect, environmental responsibility, and climate-conscious operations. Retaining the Good Travel Seal confirms that the Iwokrama River Lodge continues to meet these standards through its employment of local staff, partnerships with community enterprises, support for conservation initiatives, and low-impact tourism practices.
The Iwokrama River Lodge plays a key role in supporting Iwokrama’s wider conservation and research mandate, with tourism revenues contributing directly to forest conservation, biodiversity monitoring, and community engagement programmes.
The Centre expresses its appreciation to the Good Travel Alliance for its continued collaboration, and extends special thanks to its community partners, staff of the Iwokrama River Lodge, the North Rupununi District Development Board (NRDDB), and the Guyana Tourism Authority for their ongoing support in delivering responsible tourism that benefits both people and nature.
