Guyana to add 1000+ hotel rooms in 2026 – Tourism Minister

Tourism Minister Susan Rodrigues on Thursday revealed that Guyana’s accommodation capacity is set for more expansion, with more than 1,000 additional rooms expected by 2026, alongside new Airbnb properties and the launch of 15 experiential tourism products. The announcement was made during the Budget 2026 Debate in the National Assembly. “Guyana is on track to add over 1,000 additional rooms in 2026, increasing total room stock to over 5,600 by the end of 2026, up from 3,280 in 2020,” Rodrigues said. She further noted that 18 newly registered Airbnb establishments were added in 2025, contributing nearly 70 rooms and bringing the total to 115 establishments and 544 rooms nationwide. The Minister also highlighted the advancement of new tourism products, including eco-lodges, river and hinterland experiences, as well as heritage and cultural tourism offerings. She said that 15 new experiential tourism products were developed and launched in 2025. Expounding on sector growth, Rodrigues stated that a total of 79 new tourism experiences has been launched since 2020, reflecting continued efforts to diversify and strengthen Guyana’s tourism product. She also pointed to the launch of the ‘Tourism is Everybody’s Business’ campaign, which aims to raise awareness and encourage all Guyanese to play an active role in tourism development. Rodrigues said the world-class tourism and hospitality institute is expected to be completed this year, a move she described as critical to strengthening professional training and service excellence across the industry. She added that training remains ongoing, with the Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA) having trained more than 8,000 persons since 2020. The Minister also highlighted Guyana’s growing international profile, noting that the country secured a Bronze Award for Exhibition Design at Japan Expo 2025 and was featured in Bloomberg’s Where to Go in 2026.

Tourism conference
Meanwhile, the Minister also noted that Guyana’s growing profile in regional tourism, announcing, “In that regard, it gives me great pleasure to announce that the Caribbean Tourism Organisation’s (CTO) State of the Tourism Industry Conference will be hosted in Guyana in October for the very first time since its inception.” She explained that “this conference is the CTO’s premier gathering for tourism leaders of the Caribbean and attracts hundreds of regional and international delegates,” noting that it will further position Guyana “as a major player in the development of MICE tourism — that is, meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions.” The Minister also outlined efforts to stimulate year-round tourism activity, stating; “Additionally, we have developed our national calendar of events to drive year-round visitor arrivals, design special packages for tourists and visitors, introduce new events like the Guyana Festival and will elevate some of our existing events under the stewardship of the former Minister and my colleague, including the Origins Fashion Festival and the One Guyana Worship Experience.”

Addressing policy changes to support niche markets, Rodrigues said, “The reduction of the 14-day residency requirement for destination weddings unlocks opportunities and revenues for small businesses in this rapidly growing niche tourism market.” She added, “This one measure alone creates new opportunities for caterers, wedding planners, transportation service providers, photographers and videographers, decorators and designers, among many others.”
Emphasising the impact on entrepreneurs, the Minister remarked, “As I often say, the greatest beneficiaries of Guyana’s tourism investments are small business owners.” Turning to broader economic development, Rodrigues said, “That brings me now to small business development. I began my presentation by saying this budget is the vehicle through which we will commence implementation of our manifesto commitments.” She added, “One of the most exciting manifesto commitments is the establishment of a Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) Development Bank.”