Guyana is set to host a premier gathering of tourism leaders this year and according to Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, Susan Rodrigues, this is yet another indicator of the country’s burgeoning tourism appeal.

Speaking during day two of the budget debates, Minister Rodrigues announced that Guyana will host the Caribbean Tourism Organisation’s State of the Tourism Industry Conference for the first time this October.

“This conference is CTO’s premier  gathering for tourism leaders of the Caribbean, and attracts hundreds of regional and international delegates, positioning Guyana as a major player in the development of MICE tourism: that is meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions,” she said.

The minister affirmed that under the PPP/C administration, Guyana’s tourism landscape will soar to new heights, cementing the country as a world leader in this regard.

She underscored the phenomenal growth of the non-oil economy which expanded by 14.3 percent in 2025 and highlighted the government’s focus on inclusive development that puts people first.

She added that Guyana’s international profile is at an all-time high, having been featured on prestigious lists such as the New York Times’ ’52 Places to Go in 2026′ and Bloomberg’s ‘Where to Go in 2026’, which contributed to a record-breaking 453,489 visitor arrivals in 2025.

She noted that real organisations representing real people such as the Tourism and Hospitality Association of Guyana and the Private Sector Commission have lauded the budget as a bold and forward-looking blueprint for economic resilience.

“These are not bots on social media. These are not fake accounts on social media that cannot effect real change. These are real organisations. Organisations also commended the government for its responsiveness to feedback and recommendations through meaningful consultations that affected the positive changes that we now see in this budget. Idle gossip and relentless commentary on Facebook do not lead to positive changes for the Guyanese People,” she declared pointedly.         

To support this growth the 2026 budget includes massive allocations for tourism-related infrastructure including the expansion and rehabilitation of hinterland and coastal airstrips and a new arrival terminal at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport.

Minister Rodrigues emphasised that the government is on track to add over 1,000 additional rooms in 2026 bringing the national stock to over 5,600 rooms.

 She also detailed the transformative impact of the 14-day residency requirement removal for destination weddings explaining that this one measure alone unlocks opportunities and revenues for small businesses in this rapidly growing niche tourism market.

Additionally, Budget 2026 sets aside $2.2 billion to the finalisation and equipping of the world-class Hospitality and Tourism Institute which is slated to begin training over 700 professionals annually by mid-year.