Guyana records 360,000+ visitor arrivals in first nine months of 2026

Guyana recorded 360,623 visitor arrivals during the first nine months of 2026, as the country continues to see strong growth in its tourism sector, Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce Susan Rodrigues said on Wednesday.

At the opening of the State of the Tourism Industry Conference (SOTIC) 2026 at the Atlantic Suites by Hyatt in Kingston, Georgetown, Minister Rodrigues said the latest figures build on a 2025 record, when Guyana welcomed 453,489 visitors, representing a 22 per cent increase over 2024.

According to Minister Rodrigues, the continued growth is being supported by deliberate investments in the infrastructure and systems needed to accommodate an expanding tourism industry.

“Tourism is increasingly important” to Guyana’s economic transformation, Minister Rodrigues explained, noting that the sector is being positioned to increase visitor numbers as well as create opportunities for a wider cross-section of Guyanese.

She pointed to the addition of 12 new airlines since 2020, connecting Guyana more directly to North America, Europe, the Caribbean and South America.

Nine internationally branded hotels have also entered the market, expanded accommodation options and signalling investor confidence in the destination.

Guyana is also emerging as a meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions (MICE) destination, with more than 18 conferences and major business events hosted in 2026 alone.

The tourism minister emphasised that the government’s tourism strategy extends beyond traditional hotels and tour operators, highlighting the opportunities the sector can create for farmers, fishermen, drivers, tour guides, artisans, entertainers, entrepreneurs and micro, small and medium-sized enterprises.

With Guyana hosting SOTIC for the first time, Minister Rodrigues said the conference provides an important platform for the country to contribute to the regional conversation on the future of tourism while strengthening partnerships across the Caribbean.

SOTIC 2026 is being held under the theme “Tourism Futures: Smart, Sustainable and Inclusive,” bringing together tourism ministers, industry leaders, private-sector representatives and other stakeholders from across the region. (DPI)