–Prime Minister Phillips says well-trained local work workforce instrumental to delivering exceptional experiences, driving economic growth

IN a push to boost Guyana’s tourism and hospitality industry, officials on Friday turned the sod for the country’s first ever world-class Hospitality and Tourism Training Institute (HTTI) at Port Mourant, in Region Six.

During his address to residents and stakeholders of the tourism industry, Prime Minister Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips said investments in the industry’s workforce will enhance the quality of services, attract more tourists, and generate increased revenue.

“We have to develop continuous cohorts of trained hospitality workers to assume the management of this sector, and to provide the multiplicity of services required in this sector. Training individuals to work in the local hospitality and tourism sector, therefore, is a vital requirement in building up our hospitality and tourism sector to world-class standards,” Prime Minister Phillips said.

He further highlighted the country’s comparative advantages in nature-based tourism, and the potential for job creation and economic growth.

Prime Minister Phillips said that tourism is the country’s fourth largest export sector, accounting for 2.3 per cent of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2021 and 2022.

“Guyana’s tourism accounted for 8,300 direct jobs, and if you use a multiplier of three, then the sector would have accounted for some 24,000 indirect and direct jobs. As the government, we believe that by 2030, we can create a tourism sector that employs about 50,000 jobs,” he said.

With this facility coming on stream, it is expected that the country will generate further tourist attractions.

According to the Prime Minister: “Guyana is committed to building a strong tourism market. Just to do some simulations, if we could attract by 2030 a total of one million tourists, each of whom spends US$1,000, this will inject about US$1 billion into our economy.”

He added: “The presence of a well-trained local work workforce will be instrumental in delivering exceptional experiences, driving economic growth, and ensuring long-term success of our tourism sector. Through such investments like this one, we are not just building careers, we are building a brighter future for our country.”

Senior Minister in the office of the President with responsibility for Finance and Public Service Dr. Ashni Singh said Guyana is undergoing visible transformations, while highlighting the importance of a well-equipped workforce to support the advancement of industries like tourism.

Currently, several world-class hotels are under construction, with the government looking to create a network of 2,000 rooms.

According to Dr. Singh, to drive growth in the hospitality and tourism sector, there is need for a quantum leap in service quality and innovation.

“The work that we’re doing every day to achieve must not be one where we walk into a shiny, spectacularly beautiful and modern hotel building or restaurant and discover a quality of service that belongs to four or five decades ago. The beauty of the physical edifice must surely be matched by the quality of service experienced,” Dr. Singh said.

Minister Tourism, Industry & Commerce Oneidge Walrond said that the country’s sector is experiencing rapid development, with the government aiming to make it a main component of Guyana’s economy.

With the massive growth, she said, capacity building is crucial for tourism stakeholders to provide quality service and enhance visitor satisfaction.

Minister Walrond emphasised the importance of upskilling and reskilling in the sector, while highlighting the need for a comprehensive approach to tourism development.

Local Government and Regional Development Minister Sonia Parag reiterated the government’s commitment to excellence, and the need to equip the nation’s workforce with the necessary skills and knowledge to compete globally.

Minister Parag further stressed the significance of sustainable growth, and the role of education in achieving it.

According to recent statics, arrivals increased in 2021 by 83 per cent, moving from 86,000 to 158,000; in the following year, arrivals rose to 82 per cent to 288,000, and in 2023 arrivals increased to 319,056.

For the year 2022, business visitors numbered 47,000, while those coming for holiday and leisure numbered 143,000.

These figures, tripled with business visitors numbered over 53,000, while those for holiday and leisure numbered 177,000 in 2023.