GUYANA’S growing tourism and hospitality sector plays a critical role in the country’s long-term development, with President Dr. Irfaan Ali describing the sector as a key driver of job creation, economic linkages, and economic diversification.
The Head of State, in his address at a recent event, highlighted that the hospitality industry is among the most inclusive sectors capable of creating opportunities across a wide cross-section of the population.
“Hospitality creates jobs quickly and widely for young people entering the workforce, for experienced professionals, for skilled tradesmen, and for entrepreneurs,” he said.
The President stated that the sector’s inclusive nature makes it central to expanding economic participation, while also pointing to the government’s efforts to build a skilled workforce to support its growth.
“That is why we’re investing in [an] International School of Hospitality, spending tremendous resources to bring that school alive very soon,” President Ali said.
Along with employment, the President emphasised that hospitality stimulates a wide range of other industries, noting that its impact extends far beyond hotels themselves.
“A hotel does not stand alone; it depends on agriculture, fisheries, transport, entertainment, construction, finance, security, technology, laundry services, maintenance and retail,” he said.
This interconnectedness, the Head of State related, ensures that growth in tourism drives activity across multiple sectors, creating opportunities for local producers and service providers.
President Ali further highlighted the role of hospitality in shaping Guyana’s international reputation, noting that visitor experiences influence how the country is perceived globally.
“The experience visitors have in our hotels shapes how they view Guyana; every satisfied guest becomes an ambassador for Guyana,” he said.
The President stressed that service quality, safety and efficiency are critical components of the country’s national brand, adding that the visitor experience begins even before arrival.
“That is why we have commenced work on the new terminal which will allow us to move from processing 800 passengers per hour to 3,200 passengers per hour, seamlessly,” the President disclosed.
Against this backdrop, the Head of State framed tourism and hospitality as essential to the country’s economic future, specifically as Guyana moves further towards economic diversification.
“Tourism and hospitality provide sustainable long-term opportunities to create income streams beyond traditional sectors, and strengthen resilience,” he said.
To this end, he stated that improvements in infrastructure and service delivery are already supporting the massive growth taking place in the sector, while positioning the country to attract more visitors and even business and travel events.
The President maintained that continued investment in hospitality will be key to sustaining this momentum and ensuring the sector delivers broad-based benefits across the economy.
