Govt receives some 30 eco-lodge proposals – Rodrigues

At the close of deadline on December 31, 2025, the Guyana Government received approximately 30 proposals for the establishment of eco-lodges across the country.

This was disclosed by Tourism, Industry and Commerce Minister, Susan Rodrigues, on Sunday during the Staring Point podcast. “We received approximately about 30 proposals…they are very exciting. Everybody has a different concept and it’s something that we’re vetting right now,” the Minister noted.
Areas that were identified for suitable investment of eco-lodges were Mashabo in Region Two, Vreed en Hoop Waterfront and Leguan in Region Three, Stabroek Waterfront in Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica); Bartica, Sakaika Falls and Kumerau Falls in Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni); Kamana and Orinduik Falls in Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni), and Lethem in Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo).
“The committee has been meeting to review all of the proposals to weigh their sustainability and the feasibility of the proposals that were submitted. So, we are very excited about the prospects of moving forward with some of these proposals, even if we can’t do in every area,” Rodrigues noted. Particularly, she said the proposals for eco-lodges at Stabroek, Vreed en Hoop, and Leguan are exciting.
In its request for proposals (RFPs), the Ministry of Tourism, Industry and Commerce said it was prepared to offer attractive incentives for the development of the eco lodge and resort industry, including fiscal incentives. The Government had said it will use the responses to the RFP to rank and select those parties who will be invited to negotiate a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), including land terms, zoning, development conditions and other incentives that will be provided.
The Government had also explained that the objective of this initiative is to generate employment by engaging the local communities, create business opportunities through collaboration and partnership by engaging with the local communities, expand the country’s accommodation selection and the quality of room stock, encourage the participation of the public and private sectors, and facilitate preservation by supporting and promoting sustainable practices.
Proposals had to include, among other things, employment levels during construction and post-construction; expected contractors, including general, sub-contractors, relevant experience and overall supervision; details on the level of local content projected during both construction and commercial operations; proposed activities and/or offerings, complete with descriptions; expected incentives and other support requested from the Guyana Government; Green Building components and resource use efficiency water, renewable energy, local raw material usage; specific plans for wastewater treatment (e.g., greywater recycling, bio-digesters) and potable water sourcing/treatment that exceed basic local standards to minimise environmental impact on watersheds; estimated carbon emissions (tourism is a sector identified in Guyana’s National Determined Contribution for climate mitigation); and a fully costed plan detailing the renewable energy mix (solar, hydro, wind) and the percentage of self-generated power to achieve net-zero or near-net-zero operations.