President Dr Irfaan Ali has unveiled an ambitious plan to tear down the barriers holding back Guyana’s tourism industry, declaring that the sector is poised to become one of the country’s most powerful engines of growth.
Speaking to a packed room of tourism leaders, investors, diplomats and awardees at the Guyana Tourism Authority’s 2025 Awards and Gala at the Marriott Hotel, President Ali delivered one of his most direct and passionate appeals yet: Guyana must build a world-class tourism ecosystem—and it must start now.
He painted a picture of an industry full of untapped potential, noting that generous fiscal incentives already exist but are severely underused. According to him, fewer than ten per cent of all available tourism incentives are being accessed, even as interest in the sector surges.
“There is absolutely not one outstanding investment application at the Guyana Office for Investment,” he declared. “But some investors still misunderstand what is available and are asking for more without even touching the incentives that already exist. If the problem is people not making use of what is in the system, then we must bridge that gap.”
To close that gap, the President announced plans to hire a dedicated team of young professionals whose full-time job will be helping local tourism operators turn ideas into bankable projects. These professionals will help write business plans, prepare proposals, form consortia, and walk operators step by step through every requirement—from company registration and TIN numbers to full regulatory compliance.
“Go to them with your ideas,” he urged operators. “Let them help you write your business plan and prepare your proposal. There is no backdoor approach. If you want to be part of this sector, you must abide by the rules and governance requirements.”
He called for THAG, GoInvest, the Ministry of Finance and the new professional team to form a unified mechanism that supports operators from concept to final investment agreement. The call comes amid what he described as a surge of interest: in just the last two weeks, nine Expressions of Interest for major tourism investments landed on his desk.
“If every operator in this room pooled together US$10 million and came to me and asked for help to leverage another US$30 million, we could take one of these projects forward immediately,” he said. “That is the power of unity, and that is the role of THAG.”
President Ali stressed that government investment in tourism infrastructure has reached unprecedented levels. From the construction of more than fifteen new hotels to the expansion of the Cheddi Jagan International Airport’s Terminal 2; from upgraded hinterland airstrips to waterfront redevelopment, marinas, museums, galleries, botanical enhancements and modern ferries—he said these projects are all interlinked, building a tourism ecosystem that can compete globally.
“These are not isolated investments,” he said. “They are part of a national push to modernise every aspect of the tourism experience.”
He praised First Lady Arya Ali for her sweeping national beautification campaigns, saying her work has transformed public spaces “from the seawalls to the hinterland” and elevated the country’s overall image.
The President also hinted at big announcements to come, revealing that Guyana has already entered discussions to host major global sporting and cultural events. He confirmed that a formal bid has been submitted for what he described as an “extraordinary global event” in 2030, with details still under wraps.
“We’re going big,” he said, to enthusiastic applause. “If we want to create a destination, we must fight for it. We are competing with the world.”
Guyana’s tourism sector has already begun to show its potential. Visitor arrivals climbed by eighteen per cent between January and July 2025. Guyana earned a bronze award at the Japan Tourism Exhibition and secured at least five international tourism honours in recent years.
Pointing to a world tourism industry that saw 1.4 billion travellers in 2024, President Ali said Guyana stands before a rare moment.
“The world is discovering Guyana,” he said. “Demand is rising, our strategy is working, and this is a once-in-a-generation opportunity. We must seize it.”
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