By: Marvin Cato | HGP Nightly News |
The curtains came down on Tourism Awareness Month 2025 with a grand celebration on Tuesday evening, as the Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA) hosted its annual Tourism Awards and Gala, recognizing excellence, innovation, and leadership across the country’s growing tourism sector.
President Irfaan Ali, serving as the featured speaker, urged industry players to adopt bold, forward-thinking strategies to accelerate Guyana’s global tourism momentum. He proposed a major partnership model between the private sector and the government to substantially increase marketing resources.
“If the entire tourism sector is taxed, we’ll put 1% of our net revenue into marketing and then ask government to match it to 4% so we get 5%. I’ll sign that deal now,” the President declared, emphasizing the importance of shared investment and ambition.
The Head of State pointed to unique Guyanese experiences, including the increasingly sought-after open-top safari drive, as transformative products that set the country apart. He stressed that now is the time to change the sector’s approach to achieve tangible and lasting success.
Guyana recorded an 18% increase in visitor arrivals during the first seven months of 2025 compared to the same period in 2024—a trend President Ali said the government is committed to supporting by pumping additional resources into the industry.
Bold Tourism Targets Ahead
Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, Oneidge Walrond (Note: Your script lists “Susan Rodrigues,” but current portfolio holders should be confirmed for final broadcast) also addressed the gala, highlighting the steady rise in tourist arrivals and reaffirming government’s aggressive targets for the coming years.
“By 2030, we intend to welcome 3 million transiting passengers through our ports of entry and to attract at least 1 million visitors annually,” the Minister stated.
She outlined a series of accomplishments by her ministry and previewed ambitious plans to expand tourism products, improve infrastructure, and strengthen destination marketing to position Guyana as a premier eco-adventure destination.
Celebrating Excellence in Tourism
The gala concluded with several tourism stakeholders receiving awards for their contributions to building a resilient, innovative, and world-class tourism sector. Honourees represented a wide cross-section of the industry, including hospitality, community tourism, adventure operators, transportation services, and sustainability pioneers.
The celebration capped off a month of nationwide tourism activities aimed at showcasing Guyana’s natural beauty, cultural diversity, and rapidly expanding tourism potential.
