Digital promotions and discounted domestic travel packages will form part of efforts to attract more visitors to Guyana’s tourism offerings, as the country seeks to strengthen its image and improve the overall visitor experience.
The activities were outlined by Director of the Guyana Tourism Authority, Kamrul Baksh, during the launch of Tourism Awareness Month 2026 under the theme: “Tourism is Everybody’s Business,” on Saturday evening at the Aiden By Best Western Hotel in Georgetown.
Baksh said activities planned for the month include public engagements, digital promotions, discounted domestic travel packages and international promotions in London and Brussels. A tourism village will also be established at GuyExpo from November 12 to 15, while a media familiarisation trip to Essequibo and the introduction of new tourism products are among the other planned activities.
Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce Susan Rodrigues during the launch said this year’s theme speaks to the need for every Guyanese to play a role in strengthening the country’s tourism industry.
“Today the name Guyana echoes in boardrooms across the globe, international financial publications and at some of the highest levels in decision making…sectors like tourism will be the enduring soul long after the wells run dry,” she said.
She noted that while international attention is increasingly focused on Guyana’s oil and gas sector, tourism must also be developed to contribute to the wider economy.
Georgetown remains a major part of the country’s tourism product, with its rich history, ongoing transformation and growing appeal for business travel, conferences and cultural experiences.
But Rodrigues said the city’s upkeep must match the image being promoted to visitors, with everyone having a responsibility to pay attention to the details that shape their experiences.
“We cannot promote the beauty and curvature of our capital while overlooking the garbage accumulating along streets in drains and in public spaces. A visitor who leaves a hotel and encounters litter along the street experiences that too,” she said.
She said that beautification initiatives being undertaken by the King’s Foundation and the Office of the First Lady form part of wider efforts to improve the visitor experience. The ministry is also working to ensure taxi drivers, tour guides and others in the tourism sector make lasting impressions on visitors.
She also said Guyana’s accommodation capacity continues to expand, with 738 hotel rooms added in 2025 and more than 1,000 additional rooms projected by the end of 2026. This is expected to take the country’s total capacity beyond 5,600 rooms. Visitor arrivals reached 360,623 by September 2026, representing a 10 per cent increase compared with the same period last year.
Source: NEW ROOMS SITE
