Tourism and Hospitality Association earned $20M in 2025

The Tourism and Hospitality Association of Guyana (THAG) recorded $20 million in revenue in 2025 while spending just $11 million, a sharp increase from 2024, when the association earned $17 million.

Outgoing THAG President Mitra Ramkumar on Friday, during the Annual General Meeting held at Herdmanston Lodge, said the numbers reflect an association that has found its footing.

“I believe the association has expanded opportunities and expanded our voice,” he said.

Ramkumar said signature events were contributors to that growth. Flagship activities such as the Tapas, Rum and Wine, and Flame and Flavour drew strong patronage, with one night events generating between $3.5 million and $4.3 million in spending on participating establishments.

He also used the opportunity to announce that Guyana Restaurant Week will be extended beyond June 28 to the 29 instead. This is because of the strong turnout each restaurant is experiencing.

Ramkumar highlighted THAG’s SWIFT programme as a continued priority, urging the new board members to support this initiative.

On the regional front, he said Guyana’s unique position places it as a driver of Caribbean tourism growth.

“We believe strongly in regional partnership in growing this market. We are unique in the sense that we are the only English-speaking country in South America. We have so much we can give,” he said.

Belize High Commissioner to Guyana Gale Miller Garnet, shared similar sentiments and said Belize remains committed to working with regional partners to ensure tourism growth is sustainable, inclusive, and beneficial for future generations. She said further discussions on the importance of collaboration are expected during the State of the Tourism Industry Conference, scheduled for October in Guyana.

Garnet warned that the region cannot afford complacency amid global uncertainty. She said in the era of geo-political tensions, trade volatility and increased climatic vulnerability, it is important that regional collaboration is done.

“The approach should be for us to align our tourism agendas, coordinate our capabilities, identify our vulnerabilities and enhance our synergies as we align our agendas it is incumbent upon us to protect our people, for us to protect our culture and our eco-systems and to create an enabling environment for our tourism economies to thrive,” High Commissioner Garnet said.

Garnet also said that Belize has developed a tourism master plan, which she described as absolutely necessary for tourism to thrive, even amid political shifts in the country.