Archive for August, 2025

Tourism Visionary Dr. Auliana Poon to Keynote CTO’s SOTIC 2025 in Barbados

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (August 29, 2025) — The Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) has announced that Dr. Auliana Poon, one of the world’s foremost authorities on tourism and sustainable development, will deliver the keynote address at the 2025 State of the Tourism Industry Conference (SOTIC), taking place September 30 to October 3 at the Hilton Barbados Resort.

Hosted in partnership with the Barbados Ministry of Tourism and International Transport and Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc., SOTIC 2025 will bring together tourism ministers, directors, senior executives, and stakeholders to tackle the issues shaping the region’s future as a leading global travel destination. With the theme “Reimagining Caribbean Tourism: Research, Relevance and the Road Ahead,” the dynamic program will feature high-level panels, cutting-edge research, interactive workshops, and networking opportunities.

Dr. Poon, a Berlin-based trained economist and pioneering tourism strategist from Trinidad & Tobago, has worked in more than 40 destinations worldwide, helping shape policy, strategy and competitiveness. She introduced the now widely referenced concepts of “Old Tourism” and “New Tourism”, developed South Africa’s Responsible Tourism policy, and crafted innovative destination strategies for places as diverse as Abu Dhabi, Singapore, Montserrat and Mozambique. Her influential book “Tourism, Technology and Competitive Strategies” remains a cornerstone of global tourism research.

“The Caribbean stands at a critical juncture — one where research, resilience and relevance must guide our path forward,” said Dr. Poon. “I am honored to join industry leaders at SOTIC to share insights on how the region can chart bold strategies that ensure tourism is not only competitive, but also sustainable and inclusive for generations to come.”

One of the key highlights of the conference will be CTO’s data-driven session “Caribbean Tourism: Trends, Truths and Trajectories”, presented by the CTO Research Department, offering insights into regional tourism performance, market dynamics, and future forecasts. Other sessions will explore airlift expansion, medical and wellness tourism, sports tourism, cruise and stay-over synergies, and source market opportunities in North America, Latin America, and Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA).

CTO Secretary-General Dona Regis-Prosper said Dr. Poon’s keynote will set the tone for the week’s deliberations: “Dr. Poon has been a trailblazer in redefining global tourism policy, strategy and practice. Her perspective will inspire our members and partners to think bigger and act smarter as we advance the Caribbean tourism agenda. SOTIC 2025 promises to be a truly transformative event for our region.”

The conference will also feature the Regional Tourism Youth Congress on October 2, giving a platform to the next generation of tourism ambassadors from across CTO member states.

Current SOTIC 2025 sponsors include Environics Analytics, Liat Air, Tiki and Virgin Atlantic with additional opportunities available for organizations wishing to align with the region’s sustainable tourism development.

For more information, visit https://sotic.onecaribbean.org.

Posted in: 2025 News, Blog, SOTIC

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CTO to Showcase Sustainable Tourism Leadership at CARIFESTA XV

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (August 21, 2025) —The Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) will spotlight its leadership in sustainable tourism at CARIFESTA XV, the Caribbean Festival of the Arts, scheduled for August 22–31, 2025, in Barbados.

Working alongside the Local Organizing Committee and CARICOM, CTO will exhibit in the Sustainability Pavilion at the Grand Market in Waterford near the Botanical Gardens. The interactive booth will highlight the organization’s mission of advancing sustainable tourism development across the region, with displays on environmental initiatives, training programs, and green tourism practices.

A Sustainability Corner will showcase CTO’s regional commitment to resilience and environmental stewardship, while visitors will also learn about upcoming CTO events, including the State of the Tourism Industry Conference (SOTIC) in Barbados in September and the Tourism Human Resources Conference in the British Virgin Islands in October. In addition, a general information area will provide resources on research, tourism development, and other priority programs.

As part of its contribution to the festival’s dialogue, CTO will also participate in a panel discussion on sustainability and cultural integration. Narendra Ramgulam, the organization’s Deputy Director for Sustainable Tourism, will represent CTO, emphasizing the importance of linking culture, tourism and sustainable development. “Through this pavilion and our participation in dialogue, CTO is underscoring the importance of embedding resilience and environmental stewardship into our tourism sector,” he said.

CTO Secretary-General Dona Regis-Prosper described the initiative as an opportunity for the region to present a unified message: “The Sustainability Pavilion allows us to tell the Caribbean’s story of resilience, innovation and leadership in sustainable tourism. Our presence at CARIFESTA demonstrates our commitment to advancing tourism that not only drives economic growth but also safeguards our cultural and environmental heritage.”

By participating in CARIFESTA XV, CTO reinforces its role as a regional leader committed to promoting sustainable and regenerative tourism through innovation, collaboration and education.

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CTO Signs MOU with OECS to Advance Sustainable Tourism Development

The Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) has formalised a significant partnership on July 24, 2025, through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with three prominent partners: AECOM Technical Services, Inc., Globus Energy Group Trinidad Ltd, and the Caribbean Tourism Organisation (CTO). This MoU marks a pivotal step toward advancing sustainable development, infrastructure innovation, and clean energy collaboration across the Eastern Caribbean.

Read more.

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CTO to Drive Future of Caribbean Tourism at SOTIC 2025

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (August 11, 2025) — From strategies to boost airlift and unlock growth in sports, wellness and cruise tourism opportunities, the Caribbean Tourism Organization’s (CTO) 2025 State of the Tourism Industry Conference (SOTIC) will tackle the issues shaping the Caribbean’s future as a leading global travel destination. Taking place September 30 to October 3 at Hilton Barbados Resort, SOTIC 2025 will feature high-level panels, cutting-edge research, and actionable insights under the theme “Reimagining Caribbean Tourism: Research, Relevance and the Road Ahead.” The full schedule can be found at bit.ly/SOTICProgram2025.

One of the key highlights of the regional meeting, hosted in partnership with the Barbados Ministry of Tourism and International Transport and Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc., will be the highly anticipated session “Caribbean Tourism: Trends, Truths and Trajectories” presented by the CTO’s Research Department. This data-driven discussion will offer fresh insights into regional tourism performance, market dynamics, and future forecasts, helping stakeholders understand the realities shaping the industry today and the paths forward.

The conference also includes a “Ministerial Exchange on Caribbean Tourism”, where policymakers and industry leaders will debate sustainable development, inter-island collaboration, and strategies for improving regional and international connectivity. Attendees will also explore growth opportunities in medical and wellness tourism, sports tourism, and the cruise and stay-over sectors, as well as insights from key source markets in the U.S., Canada, Latin America, and the EMEA (Europe, the Middle East and Africa) region.

CTO will again host the Regional Tourism Youth Congress on October 2, showcasing the next generation of tourism ambassadors from across CTO member states.

“SOTIC 2025 promises to be a truly transformative event for our region, and the Caribbean Tourism Organization is proud to host it,” said Dona Regis-Prosper, CTO’s Secretary-General and CEO. “By uniting the brightest minds in the industry, we aim to ignite a collective vision for a more resilient, sustainable and innovative Caribbean tourism sector.”

The dynamic program features keynote presentations, interactive workshops, and networking events, alongside dedicated sessions such as “The Stay-Over Market: Driving Growth in Caribbean Tourism” (presented by the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association) and “A Holistic Approach to Tourism: Uniting Cruise and Hotel Sectors for Destination-Wide Success” (presented by the Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association).

Current sponsors of SOTIC 2025 include Liat Air and Tiki.

CTO invites additional leading organizations to become partners in this premier industry event, offering opportunities to showcase support for the region’s sustainable tourism development through exclusive brand visibility, speaking roles, and access to high-level networking with decision-makers.

For the full suite of sponsorship opportunities, visit https://bit.ly/soticsponsorship2025.

Posted in: 2025 News, Blog, SOTIC

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