Tourist arrivals hit 453,489; Guyana fastest-growing Caribbean tourism market in 2025

Credit: Guyana Tourism Authority

The tourism sector recorded its strongest performance on record in 2025, with visitor arrivals rising 22 per cent year-on-year to 453,489, the highest annual total in the country’s history, according to official data.
The results underscore Guyana’s emergence as one of the fastest-growing tourism destinations in the Caribbean, driven by expanded air connectivity, strong diaspora travel and growing international interest.

Visitor arrivals in November rose 8 per cent from a year earlier to 34,706, despite the month traditionally being a shoulder period for tourism. Growth was supported by increased diaspora travel for family and cultural events, improved airlift capacity and wider use of digital booking systems.

The United States and Caribbean remained the leading source markets, while arrivals from Canada and Europe continued to increase steadily.
December arrivals climbed 21 per cent year-on-year to a record 47,337, the highest ever recorded for the month. The increase was fuelled by holiday travel, festive events, expanded regional connectivity and targeted marketing aimed at diaspora and leisure travellers. In addition to strong demand from the United States and Caribbean, arrivals from Europe and Latin America posted notable gains.

Market composition and drivers

For the full year, the United States accounted for 40 per cent of arrivals, followed by the Caribbean at 33 per cent. Canada and Latin America each represented 7 per cent, Europe 6 per cent, and other markets 7 per cent.
Authorities attributed the performance to expanded airline services and competitive fares, robust post-pandemic diaspora demand, successful sports and cultural tourism events, and improvements in digital data monitoring. Collaboration between public- and private-sector stakeholders also contributed to enhanced tourism infrastructure and promotion.

Regional comparison

Guyana’s growth was highlighted in the Caribbean Tourism Organization’s (CTO) December 2025 regional tourism report. Between January and October 2025, international arrivals to Guyana rose 23.8 per cent, the highest growth rate among reporting Caribbean destinations. Dominica (16.2 per cent), Trinidad and Tobago (13.0 per cent) and the Cayman Islands (2.1 per cent) recorded lower growth.
Compared with pre-pandemic levels, arrivals to Guyana were 45.2 per cent higher than in 2019, placing it among the strongest tourism recoveries in the region. This outpaced Jamaica (6.1 per cent), Dominica (19.1 per cent) and St Vincent and the Grenadines (37.4 per cent).

The CTO report showed sustained double-digit growth across several months in 2025, including January (22.8 per cent), February (16.8 per cent), April (40.5 per cent), August (43.9 per cent), September (36.9 per cent) and October (28.9 per cent), indicating consistent momentum rather than isolated spikes.
The organisation identified Guyana as a regional leader in tourism growth and recovery, contrasting its performance with declines in destinations such as Cuba (19.9 per cent) and Jamaica (2.0 per cent).

Outlook

Guyana’s authorities expect the momentum to continue in 2026, supported by further investment in airlift, infrastructure, marketing and digital systems. Based on current trends, visitor arrivals are projected to reach about 550,000 by the end of 2026, as the country strengthens its eco-tourism brand and positions itself as a benchmark for sustainable tourism growth in the Caribbean.