At a recent media briefing, the Consumers Affairs Division (CAD) of the ministry said there were104,341 arrivals in 2002 compared to 95,148 in 2001.

That reflects an eight per cent increase in the number of visitors to Guyana during the 2002.

The statistics are based on arrivals at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, Timehri and are tabulated monthly and quarterly, it said.

CAD reported that the visitors were from North, Central and South America, Europe, the Caribbean and other countries.

In 2001, the arrivals were mainly from the United States of America and represented 46,546 or 48 per cent of the total number of visitors.

The second highest number of visitors was recorded from the Caribbean region, 23,821 or 25 per cent of all visitors.

CAD said that in 2002, the USA again recorded the highest number of visitors -- 50,058 or about 50 per cent of the total number of persons visiting Guyana.

Consistent with the trend, the Caribbean region again recorded the second largest number with 27 per cent of the total visitors for 2002.