New support team to ease tourism investment process

President Ali with one of the awardees

President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali on Tuesday announced measures to reduce barriers to tourism investment, including hiring a team of young professionals to help operators prepare business proposals and navigate incentive requirements.

Ali, speaking at the Guyana Tourism Authority’s 2025 Awards and Gala, said the government would expand support for investors and strengthen coordination among agencies.

“There is absolutely not one outstanding investment application at the Guyana Office for Investment,” he said, adding that “some investors still misunderstand what is available or are asking for additional benefits without first using the incentives that already exist.”

He said fewer than 10 per cent of tourism incentives were being used and that the gap must be addressed.

The president said four young professionals would be hired to work with tourism operators on business plans, investment proposals and regulatory compliance.

“Go to them with your ideas, let them help you write your business plan, prepare your proposal, and take it to GoInvest,” he told operators, adding that “There is no backdoor approach.”

Ali urged the Tourism and Hospitality Association of Guyana (THAG), GO-Invest, the Finance Ministry and the new team to establish a mechanism to guide applicants from concept to investment agreement.

He said investor interest was increasing.
“In the last two weeks alone, we received nine Expressions of Interest for investments in tourism. If all the operators in this room come together and raised US$10 million, and then say to the President, ‘Help us leverage another US$30 million,’ we can take one of these projects to the next level. That is the role of THAG,” he said.

Ali said coordinated action would strengthen Guyana’s position with overseas investors and lenders, including the Inter-American Development Bank.

He listed tourism-related infrastructure projects underway or planned, including more than 15 hotels, two new regional airports, expansion works at CJIA Terminal 2, upgrades to 32 hinterland airstrips, waterfront developments, a cultural market at Palmyra, a new museum and art gallery, four new ferries, major bridge projects and road links to Brazil.

“These are not isolated investments, they are part of a national push to modernise every aspect of the tourism ecosystem,” he said.