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CTO Celebrates Media Excellence with Return of Caribbean Storytelling Awards

NEW YORK (April 22, 2026) – The Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) has opened submissions for the 2026 Caribbean Media Awards, recognizing outstanding storytelling that captures the depth, diversity and evolving narrative of the Caribbean.

The awards will be presented during Caribbean Week in New York, taking place June 1-5, 2026, and will honor exceptional work from journalists, broadcasters and content creators across the U.S. and the Caribbean. Open to media professionals, CTO member destinations and their public relations partners, the awards celebrate impactful coverage that informs, inspires and elevates the region on the global stage.

“The stories coming out of the Caribbean continue to shape how the world sees and experiences our region,” said Dona Regis-Prosper, Secretary-General & CEO of CTO. “These awards recognize the journalists and creators who bring those stories to life with depth, perspective and authenticity.”

caribbean week awards photo

Submissions are now being accepted across the following categories:

●     Best Consumer Article: Honors engaging travel or lifestyle storytelling that resonates with a broad audience and inspires interest in Caribbean experiences.
●     Best News Reporting: Recognizes timely, well-researched journalism covering developments, issues or events relevant to the Caribbean.
●     Best Trade Article: Celebrates insightful reporting tailored to the travel trade, highlighting industry trends, performance or business developments.
●     Best Personal Immersive Story: Highlights deeply reported features that reflect meaningful, firsthand experiences within a destination.
●     Best Podcast/Radio: Acknowledges compelling audio storytelling that explores Caribbean topics through interviews, narratives or discussions.
●     Best Video Production: Rewards high-quality visual storytelling across broadcast, digital or short-form formats that brings the Caribbean to life.
●     Best Social Media Campaign: Recognizes creative and strategic use of social platforms to tell Caribbean stories and engage audiences.
●     Diaspora Journalist of the Year: Honors a journalist of Caribbean heritage whose work contributes to the region’s visibility and cultural connection.
●     Emerging Journalist of the Year: Spotlights rising talent demonstrating strong potential and a fresh voice in Caribbean storytelling.

Eligible entries must have been published or broadcast during the 2025 calendar year. Submissions are limited to one entry per person, per category, and must demonstrate a clear connection to the Caribbean. Entries will be evaluated based on editorial quality, clarity of storytelling, relevance, creativity and overall impact. Judges will also consider how effectively each piece communicates a distinct perspective on the Caribbean and engages its intended audience.

 The deadline for submissions is May 8, 2026. Entrants may submit their work via the official entry form: https://forms.gle/CAhvHbLAiQu9ghzb6.

Winners will be announced during the Caribbean Media Awards Luncheon, a highlight of Caribbean Week in New York, bringing together leading voices in media and tourism to celebrate excellence in storytelling. For additional information, please contact caribbeanweek@marketplaceexcellence.com.

Posted in: 2026 News, Caribbean Week, Corporate News

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Saint Lucia to Host First CTO Latin American Market Summit

SAO PAULO, Brazil (April 16, 2026) — The Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) announced that Saint Lucia will host the inaugural CTO Latin American Market Summit next year on May 5-6, 2027.

The announcement was made this week at World Travel Market (WTM) Latin America in Brazil.

Dona Regis-Prosper, Secretary-General and CEO of the Caribbean Tourism Organization, and Dr. Ernest Hilaire, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism of Saint Lucia, in Brazil this week.

The one-and-a-half-day summit is designed to deepen ties between Caribbean tourism stakeholders and the fast-growing Latin American travel market. It will convene Latin American airlines, tour operators, travel agents, media representatives and partner destinations to identify opportunities, build commercial partnerships and advance regional collaboration.

Key objectives include positioning the Caribbean as a premier destination for Latin American travelers, sharing market research and insights through panels and keynote sessions, enabling direct one-on-one business meetings, and strengthening cooperation with CTO Allied Members, ACI-LAC and other industry partners. The event will also feature showcases of individual Caribbean destinations.

A major focus will be improving air connectivity between the Caribbean and Latin America. Organizers plan to build on findings from the CTO Air Connectivity Study, which highlighted capacity gaps and significant potential for new air services to key South American markets, including Argentina, Chile and Brazil.

South America was the Caribbean’s strongest-performing source market in 2025, with arrivals rising 23.7% to 2.4 million visits. Officials attribute the surge to better air links, targeted marketing campaigns and rising outbound demand from the region, which has helped diversify the Caribbean’s traditional source markets.

“Saint Lucia is honored to host the 2027 CTO Latin American Market Summit with a strong focus on connectivity and strengthening ties with Latin America,” said Dr. Ernest Hilaire, Saint Lucia’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism, Commerce, Investment, Creative Industries, Culture and Heritage.

Speaking in São Paulo at WTM Latin America, he added: “By targeting new direct links, we can open fresh markets, boost visitor numbers and revenue, and drive sustainable economic growth across the region’s communities.”

Dona Regis-Prosper, Secretary-General and CEO of CTO, stated: “Hosting the 2027 summit in Saint Lucia with a dedicated focus on Latin America will allow us to turn insights into action — identifying new routes, forging partnerships, and delivering tangible benefits for our member countries.”

The event, to be held just before the start of the legendary Saint Lucia Jazz & Arts Festival, is expected to include targeted sessions on route development, market intelligence and partnership-building initiatives.

group photo

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Robust Speaker Lineup Builds Excitement for STC 2026 in Belize

SAN PEDRO, Belize (April 9, 2026) — The Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) has assembled more than 40 speakers for its 17th Sustainable Tourism Conference (STC 2026) at month-end, highlighting regenerative practices and community benefit tourism development. Anchored in the concept of “Tourism in Full Color,” the April 27-30 conference will explore how Caribbean destinations can move beyond siloed approaches by adopting integrated tourism development models.

These models are based on the Blue Economy through responsible use of marine and coastal assets, the Green Economy by advancing low-carbon, climate-resilient and nature-positive solutions, the Orange Economy by unlocking the value of culture, heritage and creative industries, and the “beyond” economies such as the Purple Economy, which emphasizes social cohesion, identity, wellbeing and inclusive growth.

Drawing on her Indigenous knowledge and inclusive frameworks, Dame Pania Tyson-Nathan DNZM, Chief Executive of New Zealand Māori Tourism, will deliver the keynote address “Tourism in Full Color – A New Development Paradigm” which will aim to examine a more holistic approach to tourism development.

Additional featured speakers include Professor Dale Webber, Jamaica’s ambassador and special envoy for climate change and environment, who will examine the management of climate risk, and Paloma Zapata, CEO of Sustainable Travel International, addressing the management of carrying capacity in a climate-constrained world.

High-level officials will also take center stage in a ministerial dialogue on building resilience. Participants include Belize’s Minister of Tourism, Youth, Sports and Diaspora Relations, Anthony Mahler; Minister of Sustainable Development, Climate Change and Solid Waste Management, Orlando Habet; and Tobago’s Secretary of Tourism, Zorisha Hackett.

“The strength of STC 2026 lies in the diversity of voices and expertise coming together to shape the future of Caribbean tourism,” said Narendra Ramgulam, CTO’s Deputy Director of Sustainable Tourism. “By bringing together policymakers, practitioners and innovators from across sectors and regions, we are creating a platform where ideas can be exchanged, partnerships formed and practical solutions developed for a more resilient, inclusive and sustainable industry.”

Sessions on inclusive development will feature Dr. Kadijatu Grace Ahene-Kamara, Deputy Minister of Tourism and Cultural Affairs of Sierra Leone, while Dr. Acolla Lewis-Cameron of The University of the West Indies will address the importance of green tourism pathways. Additional perspectives will come from Belizean tourism expert Seleni Matus of The George Washington University; Dahlia Guard of the Saint Lucia Community Tourism Agency; Kelly Fontenelle, CEO of the St. Kitts Tourism Authority; and Frank Comito, former CEO of the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association.

Moderated discussions will feature award-winning Caribbean journalist Julian Rogers, and include representatives from the Inter-American Development Bank, CAF — Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean, The Travel Foundation, and the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States Commission.

In addition to plenary sessions and technical workshops, the program includes a full day of Sustainability in Action site visits. Delegates will explore various locations through curated immersive experiences, including the Lamanai Archaeological Reserve, Hol Chan Marine Reserve, Hopkins Experience (Palmento Grove Eco-Cultural and Healing Lodge, Che’il Mayan Chocolate, and Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary), and The Chaa Creek Experience, offering firsthand insight into community-based tourism, marine and terrestrial conservation, and cultural heritage initiatives.

STC 2026, hosted by the Belize Ministry of Tourism, Youth, Sports & Diaspora Relations and the Belize Tourism Board, is sponsored by Carnival Corporation & plc and Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd./Belize Island Holdings Ltd (BIHL).

Additional Belizean sponsors and supporters include Bowen & Bowen, Development Finance Corporation, DIGI Belize, National Institute of Culture and History, Wine Smith Ltd., and the Belize Trade and Investment Development Service (BELTRAIDE).

Posted in: 2026 News, Blog, Corporate News, STC

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Caribbean Tourism Shows Resilient Growth Amid Global Headwinds in 2025

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (April 2, 2026) — Caribbean tourism continued its expansion in 2025, recording a 2.5% increase in international stay-over arrivals to an estimated 35 million visits, according to the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO).

This performance — approximately 900,000 more tourists than in 2024 — reflects the region’s sustained recovery and resilience with arrivals once again surpassing pre-pandemic 2019 levels.

Despite a complex global environment marked by evolving economic conditions in key source markets, heightened geopolitical tensions and weather-related disruptions, including the passage of Hurricane Melissa, the region maintained steady tourism demand throughout much of the year.

aliyyah shakeer

“Caribbean tourism in 2025 demonstrated continued resilience and adaptability even as the global landscape presented a number of challenges,” said Aliyyah Shakeer, CTO’s Director of Research. “Strategic investments in tourism infrastructure, sustained marketing efforts, and incremental gains in airlift connectivity helped support growth and maintain the region’s competitiveness.”

Performance across the year was uneven but generally positive. While the first quarter recorded a slight contraction of 0.3% amid early-year uncertainty, arrivals rebounded in the second and third quarters with growth of 5% and 5.6%, respectively. The fourth quarter remained broadly stable with marginal growth of 0.2% as late-year momentum softened.

Monthly arrivals ranged between 2.1 million and 3.5 million, peaking during the traditional high-demand periods of March, July and December. Notably, all months in 2025 exceeded their corresponding 2019 levels, underscoring the strength of the region’s post-pandemic recovery.

Across destinations, performance remained mixed. Strong growth was recorded in several destinations, including Guyana, Dominica, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and Curaçao, reflecting ongoing product development and market diversification efforts.

At the same time, some destinations experienced contractions influenced by external economic pressures, capacity constraints and localized disruptions. Nevertheless, a majority of destinations have now surpassed their pre-pandemic benchmarks, highlighting the region’s overall recovery trajectory.

Source Markets

The United States remained the Caribbean’s largest source market, with arrivals increasing 0.5% to approximately 17 million visitors. While demand from this market remained relatively stable, performance was uneven across the year, reflecting more cautious consumer behavior and varying conditions across destinations.

Arrivals from Canada declined 5.3% to an estimated 3.1 million visitors, remaining below pre-pandemic levels, as higher travel costs and increased competition from alternative destinations influenced travel patterns.

Similarly, arrivals from Europe decreased 3.3% to approximately 5.1 million visitors with recovery continuing at a slower pace compared with other markets.

In contrast, South America emerged as the strongest-performing source market with arrivals increasing 23.7% to 2.4 million visits. This growth was supported by improved air connectivity, targeted marketing initiatives and rising outbound demand, contributing to a gradual diversification of the region’s source markets.

Intra-regional travel also showed modest improvement, increasing 5.1%, although ongoing challenges related to air connectivity and travel costs continued to constrain growth.

Caribbean Hotel Performance

The Caribbean hotel sector posted mixed results in 2025. According to CoStar, average room occupancy declined slightly to 63.7% from 65% in 2024. However, the Average Daily Rate (ADR) rose 2.1% to US$350.37 while Revenue Per Available Room (RevPAR) increased modestly by 0.8% to $223.12.

Performance varied across destinations with several markets recording growth across key indicators and others experiencing declines, reflecting uneven demand patterns and localized market conditions.

Cruise Tourism Performance

The cruise sector continued its strong expansion in 2025 with total cruise visits increasing 5.2% to an estimated 35.5 million visits. This represents a significant 16.7% increase over pre-pandemic 2019 levels, confirming the sector’s full recovery and continued growth trajectory.

Growth in cruise activity was evident throughout the year with particularly strong performance in the fourth quarter driven by increased capacity and strong seasonal demand. The Bahamas remained the leading cruise destination, receiving a record 10.7 million visits, followed by several high-performing destinations across the region.

The continued expansion of cruise itineraries, fleet capacity and port infrastructure has supported sustained growth in this segment, reinforcing its importance to the region’s overall tourism performance.

Outlook

Looking ahead, the outlook for Caribbean tourism remains cautiously optimistic. The sector is expected to transition into a phase of more moderate, stable growth as global travel patterns normalize.

“While growth is expected to continue, the pace of expansion may ease as the industry navigates a shifting global environment,” noted Shakeer. “Maintaining a steady focus on strengthening air connectivity, particularly intra-regional connectivity; enhancing product offerings; and diversifying source markets will be important to supporting sustained growth and resilience over the longer term.”

Notwithstanding current travel and tourism challenges, CTO projects that stay-over arrivals will increase between 3% and 4% in 2026, supported by steady demand from North America and continued expansion in select emerging markets. Cruise tourism is also expected to grow further with projected increases between 5% and 7%.

However, ongoing global uncertainties — including economic conditions, travel costs and external geopolitical developments — may continue to influence travel demand and performance across destinations.

“Caribbean tourism continues to demonstrate its resilience in the face of evolving global conditions, but this is no time for complacency. We must remain vigilant and proactive, working together as a united region to navigate uncertainty and sustain our momentum,” said Dona Regis-Prosper, CTO Secretary-General & CEO. “By strengthening collaboration, enhancing air connectivity and advancing responsible tourism practices, we can ensure long-term growth that benefits our people and economies.”

Regis-Prosper asserted the Caribbean remains well-positioned as a highly desirable destination, supported by its diverse tourism offerings, strong brand appeal and continued commitment to sustainable and regenerative tourism development.

Posted in: 2025 News, Blog, Corporate News, Statistics

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Belize Highlights Natural Assets and Sustainability Focus Ahead of STC 2026

HAMILTON, Bermuda (March 20, 2026) — Belize’s tourism minister has extended an open invitation to tourism industry leaders to visit the Central American and Caribbean nation next month, highlighting its world-class natural assets and long-standing commitment to sustainable tourism.

Anthony Mahler

Speaking ahead of a major Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) conference, Anthony Mahler, Minister of Tourism, Youth, Sports and Diaspora Relations, showcased Belize’s diverse offerings during remarks tied to the upcoming Sustainable Tourism Conference (STC 2026), scheduled for April 27–30 in Belize.

“It is our honor to host the next Sustainable Tourism Conference in San Pedro, Ambergris Caye in Belize under the theme ‘Tourism in Full Color’,” Mahler told regional delegates attending CTO’s Air Connectivity Summit in Bermuda last month.

Mahler noted that many across the Caribbean remain unfamiliar with Belize’s tourism product, positioning the conference as an opportunity to broaden awareness. “Belize has the second largest barrier reef in the world after Australia. We have three of the four atolls in the Western Hemisphere. We have the Great Blue Hole. We have about 250 to 300 offshore islands. We have the history of the Maya civilization. We have about 35 rivers, mountains, a rich rainforest just like the Amazon,” he said.

blue hole

He emphasized the destination’s accessibility and diversity of experiences: “You don’t have to go to Australia to have great diving or snorkeling. You don’t have to go to Egypt to see pyramids. And you don’t have to go to New York or Miami or LA or any of those cities to have a diversity of people. We have all of that packaged in such a small piece of real estate in Belize.”

Belize has prioritized sustainable tourism for nearly 50 years with eco-adventure at the core of its development strategy, Minister Mahler added. The country’s tourism product includes approximately 12,000 rooms, many of them intimate properties that reflect a community-based model of sustainability.

The 17th edition of STC, organized by CTO in partnership with the Belize Tourism Board, will convene regional and international leaders under the theme “Tourism in Full Color: Integrating Blue, Green, Orange and Beyond Economies into Sustainable Planning and Development.”

Dame Pania Tyson-Nathan, DNZM, Chief Executive of New Zealand Māori Tourism, will deliver the keynote address. The program will feature ministerial roundtables, expert sessions, master classes and field experiences focused on the blue economy, green climate-resilient solutions, orange cultural and creative industries, and broader priorities including social cohesion and inclusive growth.

The conference underscores Belize’s commitment to sustainable tourism and reinforces its role as a catalyst for innovation and responsible growth in the Caribbean. STC 2026 will serve as a platform for bold ideas, strategic partnerships and actionable outcomes as delegates work to shape a more sustainable future for regional tourism.

Registration and additional details are available at: https://bit.ly/CaribbeanSTC2026.

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