Guyana’s tourism sector is poised for further growth, with the country’s accommodation capacity projected to approach 6,000 rooms by the end of 2026, the Department of Public Information (DPI) reported yesterday.
Director of the Guyana Tourism Authority, Kamrul Baksh, spoke on the sector’s expansion while addressing the State of the Industry Conference (SOTIC) 2026, noting that the country’s room stock has grown significantly from the relatively small number of rooms available in 2020.
The expansion has been supported by increased investment in the hospitality industry, including the entry of international hotel brands such as Hyatt, AC by Marriott, Four Points by Sheraton and others, alongside the development of additional accommodation properties, DPI said.
The director said a further 15 hotels are expected to come on stream after 2026, signalling continued growth in the country’s capacity to accommodate visitors.
DPI said that the increased room stock is particularly important as Guyana strengthens its meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions (MICE) market.
Baksh noted that the country had hosted more than 20 conferences and exhibitions during 2026, attracting significant numbers of visitors and generating business for restaurants, bars and other tourism-related services.
He noted that the Hospitality and Tourism Institute is expected to be completed by the end of 2026, providing an important foundation for developing the skilled workforce required to support the expanding industry.
Questions have been raised about the occupancy rate at some hotels given the increased competition. Critics have said that the government has at great cost sought to host conferences as a means of boosting occupancy but that this is not sustainable.
Source: Kiskadee Watch
