By Altovise Thornton

UNDERLINING the importance of continued support for entrepreneurs beyond the start-up phase of a business, Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, Susan Rodrigues, said 75 per cent of businesses that have been monitored by the Small Business Bureau (SBB) over the last six years are still in operation.

The government is working to bolster small businesses, expand Guyana’s tourism industry and create economic activities outside the oil and gas sector, Rodrigues said, while appearing on the Starting Point podcast, which was aired on Sunday.

Over the six years, the minister said more than 7,000 businesses were visited, which allowed the bureau to monitor their progress and see where more help was needed.

She said small-business assistance was not only financial grants but also training, mentorship, follow-up support and advice on financial management, marketing, packaging, and accounting.

The bureau also assists entrepreneurs in understanding business-compliance requirements and national standards, particularly when preparing to enter larger markets and seeking export opportunities, Rodrigues said.

The minister said that the SBB provided grants of one billion dollars to almost 4,000 small businesses between 2020 and 2023.

She also said that in the past six years, the bureau’s loan-guaranty programme has provided the small-business community with some $1.6 billion in commercial financing to 177 small businesses. More than half of the beneficiaries were women-owned businesses.

From 2020 to 2026, the bureau registered 6,511 businesses and sponsored 493 of them to participate in local, regional, and international trade fairs and expos.

Rodrigues said the initiatives are part of wider efforts to promote entrepreneurship and ensure that small businesses can contribute to Guyana’s economic development.

𝐓OURISM IS BOOMING

Tourism-wise, Rodrigues said Guyana welcomed 453,489 visitor arrivals in 2025, an increase of 22 per cent from 2024.

She said she was optimistic that the country would surpass that number by 2026, stressing the importance of marketing Guyana internationally and giving visitors the chance to experience the country’s attractions.

The minister recalled Guyana’s hosting of the Caribbean Tourism Organization’s State of the Tourism Industry Conference, which attracted over 300 delegates, including representatives from 20 international media outlets.

The event provided an opportunity to market Guyana’s tourism product as well as to engage regional and international stakeholders. Among the tourism-related activities was a youth congress, part of a broader effort to engage young people in the industry.

International exposure, big events, conferences, and festivals still matter to draw visitors, Rodrigues said. She also stressed the importance of a predictable calendar of events to assist visitors in planning their trips and to encourage more participation in tourism activities throughout the year.

Along with international promotion, she pointed to the importance of encouraging Guyanese to travel around their country through domestic tourism, including community-based and sustainable tourism opportunities.

There have been attempts to make domestic tourism more accessible.

Rodrigues also spoke of efforts to improve access to tourism for Guyanese citizens and members of the diaspora.

“After consultations, by February 2026, about six major hotels had special rates for Guyanese citizens and [the] diaspora,” she said.

The minister mentioned the discounted tours on World Tourism Day and said that the packages that were sold at a 50 per cent discount were fully booked.

But she did admit that domestic travel, especially air travel to hinterland destinations, is still a concern in terms of price. “Geopolitical situations and fuel prices affect the cost of running an airline and stop fares from coming down,” she said.

The minister’s remarks pointed out the difficulty of encouraging local tourism, yet incurring the expense of travelling to places around the nation.

𝐄CONOMIC DIVERSIFICATION

Rodrigues stressed the need to develop sectors such as tourism, manufacturing, agriculture, and agro-processing as Guyana expands its oil and gas industry.

She said it is important to stimulate these spaces and to help small businesses, which will increase economic activities and create opportunities for entrepreneurs.

The minister’s initiatives are a sign of efforts to promote tourism and provide small businesses with access to financing, training, and markets.

Entrepreneurs require continuous support and monitoring as they look to build long-term businesses, increase their customer base and contribute to the wider economy, she underscored.