Caribbean Leaders to “Reimagine” Tourism at Barbados Conference

From strategies to boost airlift to unlocking growth in sports, wellness and cruise tourism, the Caribbean Tourism Organization’s 2025 State of the Tourism Industry Conference will address the key issues shaping the region’s future as a leading global travel destination.

Taking place Sept. 30 to October 3 at the Hilton Barbados Resort, the conference will bring together high-level panels, cutting-edge research and actionable insights under the theme “Reimagining Caribbean Tourism: Research, Relevance and the Road Ahead.” The full schedule is available at bit.ly/SOTICProgram2025.

This year’s gathering will feature the much-anticipated “Caribbean Tourism: Trends, Truths and Trajectories” session, presented by the Caribbean Tourism Organization’s Research Department.
This data-driven discussion will offer fresh analysis on regional tourism performance, market dynamics and forecasts, helping stakeholders navigate the realities of the industry today and chart the way forward.

The program 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 explore opportunities in medical and wellness tourism, sports tourism, and the cruise and stay-over sectors, along with market insights from the United States, Canada, Latin America and the Europe, Middle East and Africa region.

On October 2, the Caribbean Tourism Organization will once again host the Regional Tourism Youth Congress, showcasing the next generation of tourism ambassadors from across member states.

“The State of the Tourism Industry Conference 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, Secretary-General and Chief Executive Officer of the Caribbean Tourism Organization. “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 will feature 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.