-as sod is turned for massive seafront resort, convention centre

SET to be country’s largest tourism and hospitality investment, the sod was turned on Sunday at Carifesta Avenue where the Georgetown Seafront Resort and Convention Centre will be built.

Boasted to be a world-class facility, the new resort will feature 260 rooms and suites, 150 service apartments and premium villas and it represents a collaboration between the Governments of Guyana and Qatar.

During an address at a ceremonial sod turning event, President Dr. Irfaan Ali said that the facility will add to the growing improvement in the quality of service the country is already offering.

The investment he noted further fits into the country’s overall plan of ensuring sustainable development.

“What we want to achieve, is whilst we have these important massive transformational investments that the essence of our country remains what we are known for, that is, a country that is naturally beautiful, and green. We want to return our garden city to the status of the garden city,” he said.

The president reminded attendees of the ongoing works to improve the country’s infrastructure referencing several beautification projects undertaken by the government.

In addition to this, several world-class hotels are under construction, with the government looking to create a network of 2,000 rooms. According to President Ali, with the 10 hotels currently under construction amounting to investments totaling more US$250 million, the Seaforth Resort will cost around the same figure.

The project is being executed by private investors, the Assets Group out of Qatar and construction is expected to begin soon with the hopes of completion within three years.
The five-star facility will also feature retail units for food and beverages, high luxury fashion brands, state-of-the-art health club and a convention centre with cutting edge facilities.

It was uniquely designed with Guyanese in mind.

“When you examine the features of the investment you will see that [it] mirrors the history of Georgetown, the architectural history was carefully taken into consideration in the design of the building. The natural attributes of Guyana was takin into the design.”

“We now have the type of investment that will support the natural quality of our product and I have no doubt that we will be able to build a world-class tourism sector, a tourism sector that will see the diversification of our economy and expansion of our economy realising its full potential,” the President added.

While Guyana has been expanding its infrastructure to further push its tourism potential, investments are simultaneously being made to boost its human resources.

Just last Friday, the country turned the sod for a US$7 million Hospitality and Tourism Training Institute (HTTI) at Port Mourant, in Region Six.

While this facility is yet to come on stream, some 6,000 persons have already been trained in the industry.

“For us the tourism sector, the hospitality sector, the leisure sector, is an important component of the overall development strategy, “the President said.

Meanwhile 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.

“Our vision for development is a vision for sustainable development, into which is integrated our care for the environment for the benefit of future generations,” she said.

The facility is also a part of a wider project for the improvement and enhancement of the downtown seawall area. The project includes a boardwalk from lower Kingston to the Kitty roundabout (and possibly beyond). There are also plans for the enhancement of the National Park as a green space with the addition of walking trails, curation of the various grounds and planting of trees, which will all be in the vicinity of the new resort.

“This initiative does not come in a vacuum. Rather it comes in the context of the larger vision and strategy that we have for the hospitality industry – one that we are well on the way to implementing.”

According to recent statics, arrivals increased in 2021 by 83 per cent, moving from 86,000 to 158,000. In the following year, arrivals moved 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.

In 2023, these figures increased with business visitors numbering over 53,000, while those on holiday and leisure totaled 177,000.

Guyana has also increased its air traffic welcoming several new regional and international airlines. In fact just an hour or so before the sod turning ceremony at Carifesta Avenue, SKYhigh Dominicana’s inaugural flight was welcomed at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport. The new airline will fly to Guyana three time per week.