Visitor arrivals increased by 22.5% – Walrond

From January to October 2024, visitor arrivals rose by 15 per cent compared to the same period in 2023 totalling close to 300,000 visitors, Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce Oneidge Walrond reported on Wednesday.

At a year-end press briefing at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre, Liliendaal, she noted a substantial increase in visitors’ arrival.

“Visitor arrivals in October 2024 has increased by 22.5 per cent compared to October 2023,” she shared.

“Every single year we are seeing this trend for every single corresponding month…we are seeing an increase for every single month and this is as a result of a strategic vision to bring visitors to Guyana; build out more tourism products,” she added.

According to her, 46 per cent of such visitors come from the USA, 28 per cent from the Caribbean, eight per cent from Canada, and six per cent each from Europe, Latin America and other markets.

“Nine out of the 10 months for 2024 have been record-breaking,” she expressed, adding, “With robust bookings reported by airlines for the Christmas period, this upward trajectory is expected to continue and these numbers highlight that Guyana is quickly becoming a destination of choice.”

For this year also, she revealed that 26 bed and breakfast properties have been approved, and that 15 new tourism experiences were launched.

Such are not only found in Georgetown, she noted, but in various regions across the country so that many communities are beginning to feel the economic impact.