Cricket Carnival: Booked out hotels a headache for visitors who want to stay longer

Cricket Carnival events kick-off this weekend and with the many events planned in addition to the hosting of CPL matches, Guyana is now in an “embarrassing” situation because there aren’t enough hotel rooms to accommodate the thousands of visitors.

This is according to President Dr Irfaan Ali who told a news conference that all hotels and other forms of accommodation are completely booked out even though the Ministry of Tourism Industry and Commerce and other stakeholders made special efforts to facilitate more space for the high influx of visitors.

But the President noted that the situation hasn’t daunted the celebrations but caused persons to shorten their stay.

“We’ve been in an embarrassing situation in terms of hotel rooms, we are completely out of hotel rooms. We had major delegations that have to limit their stay in Guyana now because of the lack of hotel rooms.

“From a situation when we were building the Marriott when we were criticized and we were called all kinds of names to now where we are embarrassed because we don’t have enough rooms, it tells a big story.

“And that is why these hotels that [investors] are building are so important and we have to ensure that we expedite the delivery of these rooms,” the Head of State said.

He reasoned that with the construction of new hotels and eco-lodges, Guyana will be able to accommodate many more people. The country’s tourism sector is expanding and with it is the interest of persons who want to experience what there is to offer.

President Ali reminded that many hotels, AirBnB and eco-lodges were booked out way in advance for Cricket Carnival. On Friday, stakeholders joined the Tourism Ministry in welcoming hundreds of visitors at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport.

But President Ali said he has personally received several calls about the high concentration of people flocking the airport at Timehri, East Bank Demerara.

Meanwhile, he also said he is pleased with the Guyana Amazon Warriors and their unbeaten start to the 2023 Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League (CPL) campaign. He hopes that this stamina will be maintained into the finals.