Passengers arriving at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport [CJIA photo]
As Guyana prepares to welcome an estimated three million visitor arrivals by 2030, Guyanese across all sectors are being urged to position themselves for the transformative economic boom on the horizon.
The call was made by Minister of Tourism, Industry, and Commence, Susan Rodrigues, during a live broadcast on Tuesday.
“I want every Guyanese to see themselves as playing a part in our tourism economy. Tourism is not led by a specific group of people. All of us, every single Guyanese all across this country, all of us have a role to play in ensuring that Guyana’s tourism sector grows and is sustainable,” she emphasised.
She emphasised that, “all of us can participate in the economy through tourism”.
“From the moment a visitor touches down at the airport or any port of entry, jobs are created, opportunities are created in transportation, in food, in accommodation, in tour guiding, all of which are done by ordinary people, small and medium-sized businesses,” Minister Rodrigues explained.
“The biggest or the largest beneficiaries of tourism in Guyana will be our small and medium scale businesses and that is something that I don’t wish any Guyanese, I don’t wish for it to escape any Guyanese because all of us have a role to play,” she further highlighted.
Minister Rodrigues explained that since 2020, the Peoples Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) administration has been investing heavily in developing the country’s tourism sector, from providing support to tourism operators through grants and training, to building out the necessary infrastructure and incentivizing investments in the industry.
“We have trained 8,000 persons through the Guyana Tourism Authority who receive training in hospitality, in customer service, in food preparation, and in how to upskill their businesses in tour operators. We’ve trained many tour operators to offer a higher quality of tours and also in customer service,” the minister outlined.
She also highlighted that over the last five years, some 600 new hotel rooms have been added, with more to come.
“Fifteen hotels are currently under construction, upon the completion of which we will add 2,000 rooms to our room stock,” the minister noted, adding that tourism growth has also been increased with nine new airlines entering the market between 2020 and 2025.
“And we will continue to expand our airlifts, those airlines that are operating here, and also will continue to add new routes, opening up new markets for the Guyanese traveler looking to explore and also to attract tourists looking to come to Guyana to experience our tourism product and even for trade and investment,” the minister noted.
She also pointed to the Tourism and Hospitality Institute, which is scheduled for completion by mid-2026, which will also open up tremendous opportunities for locals.
According to Minister Rodrigues, tourism has been identified as a strategic pillar for economic diversification and job creation over the next five years, with deliberate linkages to small business development and community empowerment.
The minister reminded that the government has already issued a request for proposals for the construction of eco lodges and resorts at ten locations across the country in various regions, noting that “and we’re looking forward to the exciting proposals that are being submitted that will be where people can invest, [which will] create jobs, and of course make Guyana a more attractive destination to those travelers who are seeking adventure, culture, and nature-based tourism, which is an essential part of Guyana’s tourism experience.”
Minister Rodrigues also emphasised the importance of community-based tourism, particularly in Amerindian villages.
“When our visitors visit those communities that offer tourism products, they are directly supporting our indigenous communities and ensuring their longevity and sustainability, providing direct employment to our Amerindian brothers and sisters. This is a model of tourism that we will continue to invest in and a model that we will continue to promote because it elevates Guyana, our destination, destination Guyana, from any other destination in the world,” the minister expressed.
In September, Minister Rodrigues had disclosed that Guyana is aiming to welcome three million transiting passengers through its ports of entry and attract at least one million visitors by the year 2030.
Speaking at the launch of the One Guyana Christmas Village and Supermarket along Main Street Avenue recently, President Dr Irfaan Ali revealed the newest tourism performance figures, which showed that October 2025 alone welcomed approximately 42,306 visitors – a staggering 28.9 per cent increase compared to October 2024.
October 2025 was especially outstanding, registering a remarkable 28.9 per cent year-on-year jump and welcoming approximately 42,306 visitors in October alone.” The strong October performance was part of an equally impressive trend seen across the year. According to President Ali, visitor arrivals between January and October reflected a 24 per cent increase over the corresponding period in 2024, indicating that Guyana’s tourism sector continues to expand at a rapid pace. “Overall, the January–October period reflected a strong 24 per cent increase compared to the same period in 2024,” he stated, noting that the country’s tourism product – from hospitality to nature-based travel to event-driven arrivals – continues to attract global interest.
President Ali said if the current trend continues, Guyana is poised to close 2025 with an overall 20 per cent growth in total visitor arrivals, the highest annual total ever recorded. “And if current trends hold, Guyana is projected to close December 2025 with at least a 20 per cent overall rise in arrivals,” the President declared. “This will be the highest annual total in our country’s tourism history and reinforces the view that Guyana’s moment on the world stage is here and is being built stronger and stronger.”
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