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Caribbean Tourism Leaders Urge Practical Climate Action at ITB Berlin

CTO, The Travel Foundation Strengthen Partnership Advancing Climate-Ready, Community-Centered Tourism in the Caribbean

BERLIN, Germany (March 13, 2026) — Caribbean tourism leaders used one of the world’s largest travel trade events to press the global community for faster, finance-ready adaptation to climate change, warning that theoretical plans and fragmented funding are leaving heavily tourism-dependent destinations exposed.

Speaking at ITB Berlin 2026 last week during a session titled “The Climate Adaptation Gap in Tourism: From Risk to Resilience,” Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) Secretary-General and CEO Dona Regis-Prosper described the region’s experience with extreme weather as immediate and unrelenting. “There is no teacher as great as a practical experience,” she stated, reflecting on her personal experience with devastating hurricanes in the region.

Building on that lived experience, the Secretary-General urged a shift from theory to practical adaptation and resilience in action, underscoring the importance of public-private collaboration and media engagement in addressing the ravages of climate change.

CTO Deputy Director of Sustainable Tourism Narendra Ramgulam also emphasized the Caribbean’s frontline exposure to climate impacts during an earlier session, “These Ideas Will Transform Tourism,” where he evaluated new tools aimed at assessing climate and nature risks.

“When you talk about climate risk, we see it and we feel it more than others,” he said, noting that reef degradation, beach erosion and other environmental changes are already affecting the visitor experience and tourism livelihoods across the region.

Ramgulam stressed that new solutions must work for smaller island states with limited resources. He also pointed to a persistent regional challenge in translating climate priorities into funded projects. “Across the Caribbean, there’s no shortage of climate risk information or project ideas,” he said. “What we consistently struggle with is turning those priorities into finance projects which can actually move forward.”

A highlight of the convention was the renewal of a partnership between CTO and The Travel Foundation, strengthening the framework for collaboration aimed at advancing sustainable, climate-resilient and community-centered tourism across the Caribbean. The updated Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), signed by Regis-Prosper and The Travel Foundation CEO Jeremy Sampson, marks a bolstering of the partnership between the two organizations.

Sampson affirmed, “The Caribbean is on the frontlines of climate change, but it is also at the forefront of innovation. This partnership is grounded in a shared belief that the future competitiveness of Caribbean tourism depends on its ability to deliver equitable benefits for local communities while adapting to the growing impacts of climate change. The collaboration offers a platform to align climate action, destination stewardship and resourcing pathways, supporting CTO and its members to ensure tourism continues to serve communities while adapting to growing risks.”

Regis-Prosper noted the partnership “aligns with the CTO Reimagine Plan and reinforces our commitment to leading sustainable tourism across the Caribbean. Through this collaboration, we will work with our member states and partners to advance a shared regional approach that strengthens resilience, advances community benefit and ensures our tourism sector remains competitive in a changing climate.”

CTO representatives maintained a prominent stand throughout the three-day convention, holding bilateral meetings under a unified Caribbean banner to build partnerships on resilience and regenerative tourism.

CTO Appoints Norris Clement as Deputy Director of Professional Services

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (March 10, 2026) — The Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) has appointed tourism and human resource development professional Norris Clement as Deputy Director of Professional Services, strengthening the organization’s capacity to advance workforce development and professional advancement initiatives across the Caribbean tourism sector.

Clement brings more than 30 years of leadership experience across the public and private sectors, with recognized expertise in human resource development, service standards, quality assurance, business development and project management.

A national of Trinidad and Tobago, Clement has held senior leadership roles across multiple industries and has built a strong track record in tourism development and service excellence. Among his notable appointments was his role as Lead of the Service, Training, Attitude, Respect (STAR) Unit at Trinidad Tourism Development Company, where he led initiatives designed to strengthen service delivery standards across the tourism sector.

He also served as Manager of Customer Service and Training at ANSA Rentals, a division of the ANSA McAL Group, where he directed training and service excellence programs within a major corporate environment.

“As I assume this new role, I am excited to help shape a future-fit and future-forward tourism workforce while strengthening the capacity and competitiveness of the organizations and businesses that power our sector,” Clement said. “I look forward to working with colleagues, partners and stakeholders across the region to expand opportunities for learning, certification and professional development for tourism professionals, entrepreneurs and upcoming industry talent.”

Most recently, Clement served as project manager for the Caribbean Development Bank-funded CTO Tourism Human Capital Development Project 2025, where he provided strategic and operational leadership to support successful implementation of the initiative, including consultant coordination, stakeholder engagement and overall program execution.

In his new role, Clement will lead the advancement of CTO’s regional people development pillar in the Reimagine Plan, focusing on tourism education and training, workforce development, quality assurance, service excellence and professional advancement initiatives across member countries.

The appointment reinforces CTO’s ongoing commitment to strengthening human capital and supporting a competitive, resilient tourism sector across the Caribbean.

CTO, ACI-LAC Formalize Agreement on Tourism–Aviation Collaboration

HAMILTON, Bermuda (Feb. 24, 2026) – The Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) and Airports Council International – Latin America and the Caribbean (ACI-LAC) have formalized a framework for strategic cooperation aimed at strengthening regional air connectivity and advancing closer alignment between the aviation and tourism sectors across the Caribbean.

The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed at the conclusion of the first CTO Air Connectivity Summit today in Bermuda.

The MoU establishes a non-binding framework for broad cooperation focused on improving air access, building institutional and human capacity, and supporting sustainable, resilient and inclusive tourism growth across CTO member states.

“This partnership reflects a shared understanding that the future of Caribbean tourism depends on stronger collaboration between aviation and destination stakeholders,” said Dona Regis-Prosper, secretary-general and CEO of CTO. “By working closely with ACI-LAC, we are creating new opportunities to strengthen air connectivity, enhance our regional aviation network, and ensure the Caribbean remains competitive, accessible and resilient in a rapidly evolving global travel landscape.”

The agreement positions CTO and ACI-LAC to collaborate as regional thought leaders by advancing joint research, policy dialogue and advocacy on matters of shared importance, including sustainability, resilience and regional competitiveness.

Areas of cooperation outlined under the MoU may include co-hosted conferences, summits, workshops and roundtables; executive education, professional development and technical training programs; joint studies on air connectivity, aviation and tourism impacts; knowledge-sharing and industry intelligence exchange; coordinated advocacy efforts; and the development of pilot initiatives aligned with shared strategic priorities.

Commenting on the agreement, Rafael Echevarne, director general of ACI-LAC, said, “Air connectivity is a cornerstone of Caribbean development, linking our islands to each other and to the world. This Memorandum of Understanding with CTO strengthens collaboration between airports and tourism stakeholders, enabling more coordinated approaches to planning, policy dialogue and capacity building in support of sustainable growth and regional resilience.”

The MoU will remain in effect for an initial three-year period and will serve as a platform for ongoing collaboration, coordination and the development of targeted initiatives to enhance regional connectivity and destination competitiveness.