Investors visit interior locations with aim of developing world-class eco-resorts

As the Government continues to engage investors on the possibility of developing luxury eco-lodges in Guyana, some potential investors have recently visited several interior locations.
Since 2021, Guyana has announced its intention to seek out investors to develop luxury-branded eco-tourism facilities throughout the country.
Over the years, the Irfaan Ali-led Administration has had discussions with a number of interested investors and according to Tourism Minister Oneidge Walrond, this interest continues to grow.
While no firm decision has been taken, Walrond revealed that the Government has recommended several suitable locations for possible investments.

“Just this week we have had interviews and we’ve met potential investors in that regard. We have to meet and interrogate these investors, making sure they are ready to start the projects. So far, there have been two very serious potential investors and we took them around to the different locations this week to let them identify which areas…so that has been going well. There has been a lot of interest involved but as a Government, we have to ensure that people are not languishing with the projects,” the Minister explained.
“So, we want to make sure that the projects are ready to go forward. So that is what has delayed somewhat the actual announcement and sod-turning, but it’s happening and there has been a lot of interest generated,” she added.
It has been reported that the development of a ‘world-class’ eco-resort is needed to meet the demands of Guyana’s growing tourism industry. It was also noted that the eco-resort will be linked to the ‘sun, sand and sea’ concept. Walrond revealed that the construction of the tourism and hospitality training institute has begun with secured funding of US$11.6 million from the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB).
“The hospitality institute is well on its way. We had to repurpose the project to conceptualise what we want for a hospitality institute which is something state-of-the-art, something that is fit for purpose for where we see our tourism sector growing and booming and the project as previously conceptualised did not envision that. We had to enlarge the facility, [and] add more state-of-the-art kitchens for people to be trained, so that was approved a few weeks ago by the CDB, which is our funder for the project, so it’s started construction,” Walrond highlighted.
Further, the Minister noted that very soon some thirty (30) persons will be sent to Barbados to be trained in the area of tourism and hospitality, and upon their return, they will train other persons in the tourism sector in Guyana.
Similarly, partnerships with St Lucia are also moving apace to enhance the tourism experience in both countries.