Ministry of Tourism, Industry & Commerce : Guyana

Investing in Tourism

The Government of Guyana encourages investment in the tourism sector through a generous package of incentices including Customs Duty and Tax concessions. More information is provided on the Guyana Office for Investment (GO-Invest) website.

The Ministry also provides particular assistance in to investors involved in Tourism activities in preparing Investment Development Agreements.

In recent years, tourism has been given a high priority in Guyana’s economic development strategy. This has been due mainly to changing market forces and the dismantling of secure and preferential markets for traditional sectors of Guyana’s economy as well as steady development of Guyana’s tourism.

Between the period 1986 to 2005 there has been significant interventions which have led to the development of Guyana’s tourism sector. Principal among them have been the appointment of a Minister with responsibility for tourism, the establishing of a Ministry of Tourism, the introduction of a Tourism Studies Unit at the University of Guyana, the formation of the Tourism Association of Guyana and the passage of the Tourism Authority Bill and establishing of the Guyana Tourism Authority.

Table 1 below provides a summary of the key developments in the tourism sector from 1986 to 2005:

Table 1. Key Developments in Guyana’s Tourism Sector, 1986-2005
1986	The Government of Guyana commits to embracing tourism as an industry
1987	The Ministry of Trade and Consumer Protection was designated the Ministry of Trade and Tourism.
1989	Guyana became a member of what is now the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) An Action Plan for the Tourism Industry known as the Kelly Reports were done.
1991	The Ministry of Trade and Tourism was re-designated the Ministry of Trade, Tourism and Industry with a Tourism Division.
1992	The Tourism Association of Guyana was formed.
1993	The Tourism Advisory Board was established The University of Guyana launches a Tourism Studies Program Tourism Investment Plan for Tourism Legislation prepared (referred to as the Hamilton Report.)
1996	Designated ‘Visit Guyana Year’ and the Ministry sponsored Tourism and Environment Expo.
1997	A National Plan for Eco Tourism Development was prepared for Guyana by the OAS as part of the technical assistance programme.
1998	A Tourism Policy document, an Ecotourism Plan and a Kaieteur Park Master Plan were developed
1999	The first Main Street Lime was held National Development Strategy (NDS) Chapter on Tourism was revised Draft of Tourism Authority Bill developed
2000	Final version of NDS produced
2001	CIDA provided assistance in Human Resources & Capacity building for the Tourism Sector for training and capacity building Tourism Task Force set up which prepared a Report on key policy reccomendations Ministry re-designated the Ministry of Tourism, Industry & Commerce
2002	Guyana Tourism Authority Bill passes in Parliament
2003	Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA) established and staffed Standard developed for Tour Operators and Tour Guides
2004	Highest Visitor Arrivals recorded (121,989) at Cheddi Jagan International Airport; 1,200 cruise; estimated 3,000 at Rupununi and Moleson creek. [See Tourism Trends]
2005	Highest budgetary allocation for the Tourism Sector by Government Process of licensing begins by GTA