President Dr Irfaan Ali on Saturday commissioned the US$18 million Plaza Court Hotel on Main Street, saying the investment reflects Guyana’s rapid emergence as a premier tourism destination in the Caribbean and South America.
Speaking at the hotel’s opening, Ali said Guyana’s tourism sector has moved decisively from potential to performance, supported by sustained public investment and growing private-sector confidence.
He pointed to the steady expansion of hotel capacity as a signal that the country is positioning itself to compete in the global tourism market, backed by improvements in infrastructure, safety and human capital.
“Guyana is no longer waiting for tourism to arrive,” Ali said. “The growth is happening now, and we are building the systems to support it.”
The president urged tourism operators to work collaboratively, stressing that the sector is collectively promoting a single national product rather than individual brands.
According to Ali, success depends on common standards, coordination and shared responsibility in delivering what he described as “Brand Guyana.”
He outlined safety, service quality and visitor experience as the core pillars of a strong tourism industry.
Ali said enhanced security infrastructure in central Georgetown — including Main Street, Lamaha Street, the Stabroek Market area, Kingston and sections of the seawall — has strengthened public safety, supported by expanded use of modern surveillance and response technologies.
To improve service standards, he said the government is advancing plans for a hospitality institute to upgrade skills across the sector and ensure Guyanese workers meet international benchmarks.
On visitor experience, Ali highlighted improvements in airport processing, public spaces, historic corridors and transport connectivity, noting that tourism success depends on how easily visitors move through the country and engage with its communities.
“Tourism is not built on advertising alone,” he said. “It is built on access, service and the experience people take home with them.”
The president also said Guyana is attracting increased interest from international organisations seeking to host conferences and major events, with several engagements already underway for large delegations expected later this year.
Ali credited the private sector for investing with confidence and reaffirmed the government’s role in creating an enabling environment for business growth, job creation and higher wages.
He said Guyana’s tourism push is aligned with wider national development, including major investments in roads, bridges, ports, airports, hinterland airstrips and community infrastructure.
As he commissioned the new hotel, Ali described the Plaza Court development as further evidence of Guyana’s readiness for the international tourism stage.
He congratulated the investors and workers behind the project and called for continued partnership between the government and private sector as the country advances its tourism and development agenda.