Guyana is rapidly positioning itself as one of the Caribbean and South America’s leading tourism destinations, President Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali said Saturday night as he delivered the feature address at the opening of the Plaza Court Hotel on Main Street in Georgetown.
Addressing invited guests, investors and stakeholders, President Ali said the country’s tourism growth is no longer a future ambition but an active reality, driven by deliberate investments in infrastructure, safety and human capital. He pointed to the increasing number of hotel developments as clear evidence that Guyana is ready to compete in the global tourism market.
“Guyana is not waiting for a tourism boom. The boom has already begun,” President Ali said. “We are not speculators anymore. We are coming for the market, and we are coming to be successful.”
He stressed that while private investments are expanding across the sector, all hotels and tourism operators must work together under a single national identity.
“You are not selling separate brands. You are selling one product, one brand — Product Guyana,” the president said, adding that success requires collaboration, shared standards and shared accountability.
President Ali outlined safety, service and experience as the three core pillars underpinning Guyana’s tourism strategy. On safety, he highlighted strengthened security infrastructure along Main Street, Lamaha Street, the Stabroek Market area, Kingston and sections of the seawall, supported by continued investments in modern surveillance and response technology.
To improve service quality, he announced ongoing work toward establishing a world-class Hospitality Institute aimed at upgrading skills across the sector and ensuring Guyanese workers meet international standards.
On visitor experience, the president pointed to improvements in airport processing, public spaces, historic corridors and connectivity to entertainment and recreational areas, all designed to deliver a seamless tourism product.
“Tourism does not happen in brochures. It happens on runways, in ports, in hotels, and in communities that are accessible, prepared and proud,” he said.
President Ali also revealed growing interest from international organisations seeking to host conferences and major events in Guyana, noting recent engagements with several groups planning to bring large delegations to the country this year.
He credited the private sector for its confidence and investment, while reaffirming the government’s commitment to creating an enabling environment that allows businesses to grow, create jobs and improve wages.
“We want our private sector to be successful, profitable and expanding,” he said. “That success must translate into opportunities, growth and better wages for our people.”
Looking ahead, President Ali said Guyana’s emergence as a sustainable tourism destination is being built through unprecedented investments in roads, bridges, ports, airports, hinterland airstrips and community infrastructure.
Marking the opening of the Plaza Court Hotel, he described the development as a clear signal of Guyana’s readiness for the global tourism stage.
“Brick by brick, runway by runway, room by room, we are laying the foundation for shared prosperity,” President Ali said, congratulating the investors and workers behind the project and urging continued public-private partnership as Guyana advances its tourism and development agenda.
