Hotel boom signals Guyana’s entry into competitive tourism market

Guyana is rapidly emerging as one of the Caribbean and South America’s leading tourism destinations, buoyed by major investments in infrastructure, security and workforce development, as new hotel projects signal the country’s readiness to compete on the global tourism stage.

Speaking on Saturday night at the opening of the Plaza Court Hotel on Main Street in Georgetown, President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali said the country’s tourism expansion is no longer aspirational but firmly underway, driven by sustained public and private sector investment.
“Guyana is not waiting for a tourism boom. The boom has already begun,” Ali said, adding that investors are no longer speculating but actively positioning the country to capture international market share.

Ali stressed that the growing number of hotels and tourism operators must work collaboratively, noting that the sector is collectively marketing a single national product — Brand Guyana — rather than competing standalone offerings.
“You are not selling separate brands. You are selling one product, one brand — Product Guyana,” he said, adding that this requires shared standards and accountability across the sector.

The president identified safety, service and visitor experience as the three pillars underpinning a successful tourism industry, outlining government investments aimed at strengthening each area.

He pointed to expanded security infrastructure along Main Street, Lamaha Street, the Stabroek Market area, Kingston and sections of the seawall, supported by technology upgrades to improve monitoring and response capabilities.
To improve service quality, Ali said work is continuing toward establishing a world-class Hospitality Institute to raise skills across the sector and align Guyanese workers with international service standards.

On visitor experience, he highlighted improvements in airport processing, public spaces, historic corridors and connectivity to entertainment and recreational areas, aimed at delivering a seamless tourism product.
“Tourism does not happen in brochures. It happens on runways, in ports, in hotels, and in communities that are accessible, prepared and proud,” Ali said.

He also noted rising interest from international organisations seeking to host conferences and major events in Guyana, citing recent engagements with multiple groups planning to bring large delegations to the country this year.
Ali credited the private sector for its confidence and investment, while reaffirming the government’s role in creating an enabling environment for businesses to expand, generate employment and raise living standards.
“We want our private sector to be successful, profitable and expanding,” he said. “That success must translate into opportunities, growth and better wages for our people.”

Looking ahead, Ali said Guyana’s emergence as a sustainable tourism destination is being deliberately built through large-scale investments in roads, bridges, ports, airports, hinterland airstrips and community infrastructure.
Marking the opening of the Plaza Court Hotel, he described the development as a signal of Guyana’s readiness for the global tourism market, congratulating the investors and workers involved and calling for continued public-private collaboration.

“Brick by brick, runway by runway, room by room, we are laying the foundation for shared prosperity,” he said. (DPI)

The cutting of the ceremonial ribbon to officially open the Plaza Hotel