GEORGETOWN, Guyana — President Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali has authoritatively declared Guyana’s transformation into a leading tourism hub for the Caribbean and South America, asserting that the nation’s long-anticipated tourism boom is no longer a future prospect but a present reality. The announcement was made during the inauguration of the new Plaza Court Hotel in Georgetown, symbolizing the country’s aggressive push into the global tourism market.
President Ali emphasized that strategic and unprecedented government investments in critical infrastructure, national safety, and human capital development have fundamentally shifted Guyana’s position from an aspirant to a formidable competitor in the international tourism arena. ‘Guyana is not waiting for a tourism boom. The boom has already begun,’ he stated. ‘We are not speculators anymore. We are coming for the market, and we are coming to be successful.’
A central theme of his address was the necessity for industry-wide collaboration. The President framed the entire national tourism sector as a unified entity selling a single product: ‘Brand Guyana.’ He urged all hotel operators and stakeholders to embrace shared standards and accountability, moving beyond individual branding to collectively enhance the nation’s appeal.
Ali outlined a three-pillar framework—safety, service, and experience—as the cornerstone of Guyana’s tourism strategy. He detailed enhancements in security infrastructure and technology-driven monitoring systems that have significantly bolstered public safety. To elevate service quality, the government is advancing plans for a world-class Hospitality Institute designed to equip Guyanese workers with internationally recognized skills.
Regarding the visitor experience, the President highlighted comprehensive upgrades, including streamlined airport processing, revitalized public spaces and historic corridors, and improved connectivity to entertainment districts, all aimed at creating a seamless and memorable tourist journey.
The nation is already reaping the benefits of this strategic push, with a notable surge in interest from international organizations seeking to host major conferences and events in Guyana. The President credited the private sector’s confidence and substantial investments as a vital driver of this growth, reaffirming the government’s commitment to fostering a pro-business environment that generates jobs and raises living standards.
Looking to the future, President Ali described a deliberate and sustained national project, fueled by historic investments in roads, bridges, ports, and airports, to establish Guyana as a premier sustainable tourism destination. The opening of the Plaza Court Hotel was presented as a tangible marker of this readiness, with the President concluding, ‘Brick by brick, runway by runway, room by room, we are laying the foundation for shared prosperity.’