–THAG President says country has tremendous potential as investment, infrastructure open new opportunities for global tourism growth

GUYANA’S tourism sector is entering a massive phase of growth, but according to the President of the Tourism and Hospitality Association of Guyana (THAG), Mitra Ramkumar, the country has only begun to scratch the surface of its true potential as a global destination.
During an exclusive interview on Thursday, Ramkumar told this publication that Guyana is currently at a critical juncture in the development of its tourism industry, where strategic investment and expanding infrastructure are creating the conditions for the sector to scale significantly in the coming years.
While acknowledging the steady rise in visitor arrivals and growing international interest, he stressed that the country is still “touching the tip of the iceberg” in terms of what it can ultimately achieve as a tourism destination.

Guyana, he explained, possesses a unique combination of natural beauty and cultural diversity that continues to attract both first-time and returning visitors.
From its vast rainforest landscapes and extensive river systems to its cuisine and rich multiethnic and multireligious society, Ramkumar said these elements collectively position Guyana as a destination with distinctive global appeal.
According to him, tourism has the potential to emerge as one of Guyana’s main economic pillars.
Although the sector’s transformation will not occur overnight, Ramkumar believes Guyana can eventually reach the same level of tourism development as other Caribbean destinations that have successfully built globally recognised industries.
“We are now touching the tip of the iceberg in terms of how far we can go as a destination,” Ramkumar said.
He noted that Guyana’s rapidly expanding oil and gas sector is also creating new opportunities to strengthen the tourism industry by providing the financial resources needed to build supporting infrastructure and expand international marketing.
“One is to be able to put the infrastructure in place for the tourism industry, to be able to market ourselves as a destination globally, and also to be able to welcome people and move them around,” Ramkumar explained.
He added that developing modern infrastructure and improving service delivery are essential if Guyana is to meet internationally accepted standards and compete with established tourism markets.
“Well, everything that the industry requires to be able to do it at an internationally acceptable standard, and so this is where I see Guyana as a tourism destination should be aiming to,” he said.
Beyond investment and infrastructure, Ramkumar emphasised that national attitudes and everyday behaviour also play a crucial role in shaping the visitor experience.
He urged citizens to adopt a collective approach to tourism development, noting that maintaining a safe and welcoming environment is essential for both residents and visitors.
“If we do, then you will find us changing some of the unbecoming behaviours that we take for granted, in terms of littering, in terms of the way we use our roads, in terms of courtesies, simple courtesies, the way we interact with each other,” Ramkumar said.
He pointed to established tourism destinations such as Barbados and Jamaica as examples of countries that have cultivated a strong national focus on hospitality and visitor experience.
“If you were to look at, let’s say, Barbados, Jamaica, they would have [sic] refined their approach. As a tourist visiting these countries, you can see and feel the focus that these countries place on tourism,” he noted.
With continued investment, improved infrastructure and a national commitment to hospitality, Ramkumar believes Guyana is well positioned to unlock the full potential of its tourism industry in the years ahead.
Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, Susan Rodrigues during the launch of the US$18 million Plaza Court Hotel on Main Street in January said that in 2025, Guyana recorded 453,489 visitors, representing a 22 percent increase. These figures, she noted, represent more than statistics, but reflect jobs, business growth, foreign exchange earnings and sustained confidence in Destination Guyana.
Over the last five years, Guyana has developed a total of nine new hotels, adding more than 1,000 rooms to the country’s hospitality capacity. This expansion, the minister said, comes as additional investors are slated to establish local ventures.

“An additional seven major brands are projected to deliver over 1,300 new rooms. This expansion strengthens our ability to host conferences and compete regionally,” she added.
Minister Rodrigues explained that the next major focus for the sector is the development of eco-tourism, a market with significant potential in Guyana and with growing international appeal.
“The government is focused on strengthening the national-events calendar and elevating ecotourism and sustainable tourism. Guyana’s tourism product is built around protected areas, indigenous and community-led tourism, rainforest and river experiences,” she said.
She noted that 40 new tourism products have been developed in the last five years, and in 2025 alone, 15 of these new experiences were developed, through the Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA).
Minister Rodrigues related that our biggest niche market is the diaspora, with 40 per cent based in the United States, and 33 per cent in the Caribbean.
She said: “That’s exciting and encouraging. As we are adding flights around the Caribbean, Cuba, Dominican Republic, we now have direct flights to St. Lucia, Barbados. Every day, flights go and come from Barbados. More than one flight per day. So, they absorb 33 per cent of the market for our visitors coming to Guyana.”
The minister added that the removal of duties and taxes on all-terrain vehicles in the 2026 budget, is truly a major win for the tourism and hospitality sector, along with the flat rate on double-cab pickup vehicles. These are vehicles used in communities such as Lethem, where it is their main mode of transportation, taking visitors and tourists on wildlife spotting, and guiding them through all the many waterfalls, and many other adventures.
According to the minister, this move by the government shows tourism business owners that, “We have confidence in Guyana’s tourism sector, and therefore we are investing in you. And we are implementing these measures to give you the freedom to invest, using the confidence that we are putting into these measures,” Minister Rodrigues added.