Guyana Anticipates 350,000 Visitors in 2024 Amid Rapid Tourism Growth

• Guyana is poised to welcome 350,000 visitors in 2024, reflecting a significant increase in its tourism sector. According to the Guyana Tourism Authority’s (GTA) Tourism Statistical Digest 2023, the country’s tourism industry has rebounded from the pandemic and surpassed its pre-pandemic visitor numbers.
• Director of the Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA) Kamrul Baksh highlighted in the report that international tourism reached 88% of its pre-pandemic levels, with global arrivals nearing 1.3Bn, as noted by the UNWTO World Tourism Barometer of 2023.
• Baksh projects a full recovery of international tourism by 2024, driven by factors like pent-up demand, expanded air connectivity, and a strong resurgence in Asian markets. “Guyana’s tourism industry is part of this global trend, which can be attributed mainly to the support received from both the private and public sectors,” Baksh stated.
• In 2023, Guyana saw an 11% increase in visitors compared to 2022, with a total of 319,147 tourists, marking an addition of 4,420 arrivals. Visitor numbers from January to April 2024 have shown a 12.4% increase over the same period in 2023, accounting for 112,751 visitors.
• The projection for 2024 is 350,000 visitors, bolstered by the addition of 595 new hotel rooms and major calendar events such as the Rupununi Rodeo, Mashramani, and Cricket Carnival. Other contributors to the anticipated growth include ongoing oil production, increased marketing efforts, product development, and major conferences.
• The trend is expected to continue in the coming years with more hotel completions significantly expanding the country’s accommodation capacity and a robust lineup of events.

(Source: Guyana Chronicle)