THE Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA) has recorded a 9.2 per cent increase in international arrivals to Guyana, during the period of January to May, 2019, making way for tourism to become the country’s second largest export sector in Guyana.

This was announced by Brian Mullis, Director of the GTA, at a press conference held by the GTA, on Wednesday, at the National Exhibition Centre. The Director pointed out that tourism is a force for good in Guyana and has long been regarded as one of the fastest growing export sectors in the world, significantly contributing to sustainable development in the areas of job and wealth creation, economic growth, environmental protection and poverty alleviation.

He said, “It’s no surprise that Guyana’s ‘Green State Development Strategy’ and its long standing ‘Green State Agenda’ have highlighted tourism as a priority, value adding sector, requiring increased investment. That level of priority is continuously being supported by a growing body of data.”

Mullis indicated that the GTA, under the Ministry of Business, has adopted and implemented sustainable destination management, development and marketing practices that has resulted in Guyana becoming one of the top 10 sustainable destinations in the world.

In 2018, Guyana welcomed approximately 286,732 international visitors, which showed a 15.9 per cent increase. There was also a 21 per cent increase in travellers coming to Guyana just for leisure purposes, which reflected 183,639 individuals.

According to Mullis, the net result shows that the travelling tourism as a sector, injected approximately $62.6 billion, directly into Guyana’s economy in 2018, “that means that tourism is the second largest export sector in the country, after gold and ahead of rice,” he added.

Due to a recent analysis of the Bureau of Statistics’ Visitor Exit Survey, conducted at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport and other ports of entry, the GTA estimated that in 2018, the average expenditure, per international traveller, per visit, is approximately 222,216 Guyanese dollars or US$1064.

“The international average per trip is US$1100, so we are right in line with that global average,” he noted.
The total contribution of travelling tourism to Guyana’s Gross Domestic Product in 2018 is 7.8 per cent, which directly created approximately 8500 jobs, while a total of 22,000 jobs were created indirectly, as estimated by the World Travelling Tourism Council.

Mullis indicated that by 2025, Guyana can expect 500,000 international visitors entering the country, which could reflect a 100 per cent growth from 2017.

In his remarks, Minister of Business, Haimraj Rajkumar, highlighted that earlier this year, Guyana was named the “Best Eco-Tourism Destination” and “Best in Sustainable Tourism” in the world, and added that, the recognitions further validate “the approach the government has been taking tourism development in Guyana.”

He stated that the tourism sector will continue to be a high priority for the Government of Guyana, since it understands the value and transformative potential the sector has on the quality of life of Guyanese people.

According to Rajkumar, the government views tourism, not just as a means of attracting visitors to the shores of Guyana, but as a platform which supports the country’s economic diversification, resiliency and advancement in its development.

“In the future, as was alluded to by the director, that by 2025 we expect 500,000 visitors to our country. You would agree with me that it would significantly impact our economy and of course create more jobs for people. I think that we are on good track. The tourism industry has been developing in our country and we as a people will benefit tremendously,” the minister said.

Rajkumar noted that he also recognises the continued efforts made by the private sector in developing tourism in Guyana and making the country a deserving tourist destination.
In June of this year, Guyana received the Latin American Travel Association’s (LATA’s) “Best in Sustainable Tourism” award. According to GTA, the country was awarded during LATA’s “Experience Latin America” conference in London, England-Europe’s largest Business to Business (B2B) travel conference.

The LATA Achievement Awards recognises destinations, individuals and/or companies with exemplary case studies of tourism or those that have made an exceptional contribution to the development of sustainable travel to Latin America.

In March of 2019, Guyana was named the number one “Best of Ecotourism” destination in the world. The award was presented to Guyana at the ITB global travel trade fair in Berlin, Germany.