Guyana reached a historic milestone in 2024, surpassing 1 million international passengers transiting through its ports—a year ahead of President Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali’s initial prediction for 2025.
This achievement reflects Guyana’s rapid economic growth and its increasing appeal as a destination for cultural experiences and diverse tourism offerings.
Chief Executive Officer of the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA), Ramesh Ghir, announced the achievement during a year-end press briefing on Saturday. According to Ghir, 1,072,785 passengers were processed across the country’s four main ports of entry: CJIA, Eugene Correia International Airport (Ogle), Lethem Border Crossing, and Moleson Creek Crossing.
This marks a 15 percent increase from the 930,000 passengers recorded in 2023, with 142,785 additional travelers processed in 2024.
“A few years ago, President Irfaan Ali did make a prediction that we will process a million passengers by 2025; we actually achieved that target in 2024,” Ghir stated.
CJIA alone accounted for 826,000 passengers, a 17 percent increase compared to 2023. Meanwhile, Ogle processed 72,000 passengers, Lethem recorded 28,000, and Moleson Creek saw 14,000 travelers.
The surge in international passengers was supported by a 17 percent rise in international landings at CJIA, driven by more airlines choosing Guyana as a destination. This expansion led to an increase in available airline seating from 1,244,178 in 2023 to 1,491,909 in 2024, representing a 20 percent rise.
“Additional aircraft seating means there is more choice as a passenger, and it brings down the cost of the ticket. That’s why it’s important that we have additional seats,” Ghir explained.
As a critical driver of Guyana’s economic growth, CJIA continues to modernize its operations to enhance passenger experience and meet the growing demand. The milestone underscores the country’s growing role as a hub for both business and leisure travel in the region.
