International hotels in Guyana are beginning to embrace the government’s proposed price cap initiative, aimed at making accommodation more affordable for Guyanese at home and abroad. Marvin Cato tells us more.
By Marvin Cato | HGP Nightly News
The Royal International Hotel, located at Track JW, Mandela Avenue, Georgetown, has announced that it will introduce a capped rate of US$160 plus VAT per night for Guyanese and members of the diaspora.
The move comes shortly after Aiden by Best Western became the first major hotel to offer a special capped rate of US$200 plus VAT, starting October 1, following an engagement session with the Ministry of Tourism, Industry and Commerce.
The initiative was championed by new Tourism Minister Susan Rodrigues, who has stressed that lowering accommodation costs is a priority after repeated complaints from locals and returning nationals. She noted that the government had been considering a US$200 per night price cap to make travel more accessible.
“This is a win for accessibility and a win for tourism in Guyana,”
Minister Rodrigues said in a recent social media post.
Industry players say the idea has been in discussion for some time. Mitra Ramkumar, President of the Tourism and Hospitality Association of Guyana (THAG), said the measure would help improve occupancy rates across hotels by ensuring steadier visitor flows, particularly during peak tourism periods.
Minister Rodrigues has also committed to launching a tourism events calendar from 2026, packaging major activities such as Diwali, Independence, and Christmas celebrations into 7- and 10-day experiences. These will be promoted abroad through airlines and embassies to better reach the diaspora market.
She told stakeholders at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre that growing tourism into a stronger economic driver requires the industry to move away from working in silos and to instead build stronger partnerships.
While participation in the capped-rate scheme is voluntary, it will be linked to future promotional opportunities facilitated by the government.
With the backing of both Aiden by Best Western and now the Royal International Hotel, officials believe the initiative is gaining momentum and will set the tone for wider adoption across the hospitality sector.
