-as US$18 million Plaza Court Hotel opens

President Dr. Irfaan Ali officially declared that Guyana has moved past the era of “potential” and is now a major player in the global tourism market. Speaking Saturday evening at the grand opening of the US$18 million Plaza Court Hotel on Main Street, the Head of State emphasised that the nation’s rapid hospitality expansion is a deliberate transformation rather than a matter of chance.

“Guyana is not waiting for a tourism boom. The boom has already begun. We are not standing at the edge of possibility, wondering what might come. We’re already laying the foundation for what must come, brick by brick, runway by runway, room by room. Today, as we open the Plaza Hotel on Main Street, we are making a statement, a statement that says Guyana is ready — ready for the big league in tourism. We are going to play in the league. We are not spectators anymore. We are coming for the market. We are coming hard, and we are coming to be successful,” the head of state asserted.

He reminded that the government is seeking to establish Guyana as a premier sustainable tourism destination, linking natural wonders, vibrant culture and world-class hospitality to curate extraordinary experiences that translate into shared prosperity for all Guyanese.

He added that the opening of the Plaza hotel ties into the PPP/C administration’s broader agenda for national transformation.

“For decades, Guyana was described as a country with great potential: potential for eco tourism, potential for cultural tourism, potential for adventure tourism. But potential, if left unrealised, is only promise postponed. What is happening now is different. Potential is being converted into performance. Promise is being transformed into product. To turn promise into reality, you must build a platform, and we recognise that the foundation of any serious tourism industry is infrastructure,” President Ali stated.

With projects like the Berbice Deep Water Port, the Wales Industrial Estate, and the Wismar-Mackenzie bridge in Linden underway, the country’s infrastructural ecosystem is being elevated to ensure that Guyana is no longer just a nation of potential, but a global destination fully prepared to support a world-class tourism industry and shared prosperity for all its citizens.

President Ali also praised the local private sector for trusting the vision and investing in the country’s space. He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to providing an enabling environment, and urged them to work in tandem to promote Brand Guyana.

The Plaza Court Hotel adds 60 high-end rooms to the national stock. The boutique facility features a rooftop bar with views of the Demerara River and a Presidential Suite designed for high-level delegations.