Bharrat Jagdeo, president of Guyana, is projecting 40,000 more visitors to Guyana from the country's new alliance with Caribbean Airlines. - File

The Guyana Government will give the Trinidad-based Caribbean Airlines, national flag carrier status, President Bharrat Jagdeo announced Wednesday.

Jagdeo said that the move is to improve hassle-free travel for Guyanese forced to be in transit in other Caribbean territories while travelling to North America and Europe.

Guyana is without its own national carrier following the collapse of Guyana Airways; GA2000; and most recently Universal Airlines.

Jagdeo, delivering the feature address at a one-day national tourism conference said the move could attract an additional 40,000 visitors.

Last year, Guyana had 120,000 tourist visits.

The weekend arrests of Guyana-linked terror suspects who were allegedly plotting to blow up the JFK airport in New York, could affect those numbers going forward.

But government officials were upbeat.

"There is no turning back now in the tourism sector; Guyana is on the move," said Tourism, Industry and Commerce Minister, Manniram Prashad.

"The future looks great."

Jagdeo said the decision to give Caribbean Airlines national carrier status would ensure direct flights to North America.

"I am excited about the (country's) future," Jagdeo said.

"Caricom is a huge market waiting to be exploited."

- CMC