Guyana’s expanding meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions (MICE) tourism market is creating new opportunities for local businesses, with more than 20 conferences and exhibitions hosted in 2026.
Director of the Guyana Tourism Authority, Kamrul Baksh, highlighted the sector’s growing contribution to the tourism industry while addressing the State of the Industry Conference (SOTIC) 2026, noting that the benefits extend beyond hotels and conference venues to restaurants, bars and other complementary services.
“When we have the discussions with the restaurants and bars, and the complementary services for tourism, they are experiencing a lot of the benefits, so they want to see more of this market,” he explained.
The growth in conference tourism is providing opportunities for businesses across the wider economy, as delegates require accommodation, transportation, food, entertainment and other services during their stay.
This creates potential for increased sales and income for local entrepreneurs while supporting employment across the tourism and hospitality sectors.
He highlighted that Guyana hosted over 20,000 attendees, including more than 12,000 persons who travelled specifically for conference-related activities.
The market is also creating opportunities for Guyanese tourism operators to showcase the country’s attractions and develop partnerships with international visitors and industry stakeholders.
As Guyana hosts more regional and international events, local businesses can use these engagements to promote their services, establish new business relationships and attract future visitors.
The director noted that Guyana must continue investing in key tourism markets to attract more conferences and exhibitions, while developing additional experiences that encourage delegates to explore the country beyond their official engagements.
He emphasised the importance of providing activities for visitors, pointing to the need for continued product development alongside improvements in accommodation and connectivity.
The expansion of the MICE market is taking place as Guyana’s tourism infrastructure continues to develop, with close to 6,000 hotel rooms projected by the end of 2026 and additional hotels expected to enter the market after this year.
The growth in accommodation capacity, together with increased air connectivity, is expected to strengthen Guyana’s ability to host larger events and accommodate more visitors, while creating further opportunities for businesses to benefit from tourism expenditure.