Tourism, Industry, and Commerce Minister Susan Rodrigues has called for a national cultural transformation to align with Guyana’s rapid economic growth, emphasizing that discipline, professionalism and improved service delivery are essential for sustaining progress.
Speaking on the second day of the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) Business Development Forum held at the Pegasus Suites and Corporate Centre in Georgetown, Rodrigues stated that Guyana must “get the small things right” to achieve global success.
She pointed out that lateness and poor service remain ongoing challenges that need to be addressed through awareness and accountability.
“Our campaign theme is ‘Tourism is a relevant business, diversity and kindness cost nothing’,” she explained. “The goal of the campaign is to create a paradigm shift in our society and culture.”
The minister highlighted that Guyana’s economy has been showing exceptional results, with an average growth rate of 27% over the past five years and 13.8% reported in non-oil sectors in the first half of 2025. “This kind of growth is not happening anywhere else in the world,” Rodrigues stated, adding that diversification is essential since oil is a non-renewable resource.
She credited fiscal discipline and good governance for transforming Guyana from a heavily indebted nation into one of the fastest-growing economies. She reaffirmed the importance of tourism to Guyana’s future, describing it as “a driving force in our quest to diversify our economy and transition to a service-based economy”.
Rodrigues shared that the “Tourism is Everybody’s Business” campaign aims to instill a sense of shared responsibility, emphasizing that every interaction from the airport to restaurants shapes visitors’ experiences.
“I’d rather have bad food with good customer service,” she said, and underlined that excellent service has economic value. “People are willing to pay more for that. They return because of how you made them feel.”
Rodrigues outlined five pillars of President Irfaan Ali’s transformation agenda: digitalization, industrialization, food security, energy security, and climate and biodiversity leadership.
Training and quality certification will support these priorities, she said, adding that the government is working with the Guyana National Bureau of Standards to introduce accessible frameworks similar to ISO 9001.
The minister also announced that requests for proposals are now open for resort developments at 10 iconic locations nationwide, including Lethem, Bartica, and Kaieteur. “We want to build resort-style accommodations,” she said, noting that 15 new hotels are already under construction, adding 2,000 rooms to Guyana’s capacity.
Rodrigues urged local businesses to form partnerships with international developers and prepare for an increase in tourism. She also revealed plans to implement electronic signatures and a collateral registry to improve access to financing for small enterprises.
“The private sector has been supportive of our government,” she said, calling for continued collaboration as the country expands. “We just have to go the extra mile to get it right.”
She is encouraging Guyanese to become ambassadors for their own country: “The only way to be proud of your country is to know it. The only way to speak about Destination Guyana is to experience it.”
