by Mia Taylor
Last updated: 4:30 PM ET, Fri May 23, 2025
Caribbean tourism industry leaders are focused on shaping a more resilient, inclusive and innovative future for the regions tourism industry.
That theme was the main focus of discussion at the recent gathering of the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA).
The event, which took place earlier this week at the Sandals Grande Antigua, covered everything from travel trends to economic forecasts, airlift challenges and sustainable development. But the key takeaway was the regions commitment to thriving amid global shifts.
Heres a closer look at some of the discussions that took place
Travel trends and outlook: Growth with shifting dynamics?
Kicking off the Forum, Olivier Ponti, the ForwardKeys director of intelligence and marketing, officially launched the latest Caribbean Travel Trends report, offering timely insights into shifting traveler behavior, emerging markets and areas of opportunity to strengthen regional competitiveness.
Ponti highlighted that while travel to the Caribbean is projected to grow in 2025, the pace has slowed compared to previous years.
Large destinations are claiming greater market share, increasing competition across the region. Opportunities lie in diversifying source markets beyond the U.S., with strong travel intent emerging from Canada, Mexico, Colombia, Brazil, and Spain. Digital nomads, families, and high-end travelers remain key segments, with events tourism also presenting strong potential, as seen with cricket and major concerts.
Economic uncertainty presents risk and opportunity
Zeek Coleman, vice president at Tourism Economics, emphasized the fragility of the global economic landscape, citing consumer unease despite low unemployment and reduced inflation.
While intended leisure travel remains high, U.S. travelers may look closer to home, offering the Caribbean a potential edge. However, geopolitical tensions, trade wars, and a possible U.S. recession could disrupt travel behavior and impact group and business travel.
Experience-driven travel and higher spend
Carl Gordon, director of government, strategic growth at English Caribbean, shared key findings from Mastercards recent Global Travel Trends 2025 report. Gordon shared that visitors are staying longer and spending more, drawn to the Caribbeans leading assets: its people and its beaches. Interest is surging in wellness, nature, gastronomy, and cultural experienceswell positioning the region well to capture evolving traveler preferences.
Critical policy and advocacy issues
Tourism Analytics James Hepple shared results from a recent regional survey of National Hotel and Tourism Associations (NHTAs), identifying the top three priorities facing the industry today:?
- Airlift and airport infrastructure
- Workforce development
- Rising operational costs. ?
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Additional key concerns included regulating short-term rentals, digital immigration systems, and cruise ship taxation. These issues represent the?initial findings of CHTAs new Advocacy Repository, a strategic resource to be fully launched later this year to inform future actions by CHTA and its national association partners.
Fixing intra-caribbean airlift: A regional imperative
Addressing one of the Caribbeans most pressing and persistent barriers to growth, CHTA President Sanovnik Destang led a powerhouse panel on the future of intra-Caribbean air connectivity. ??
Panelists included Valerie Damaseau, Commissioner of Tourism and Culture of Saint-Martin; Mario Reyes, former airline owner, former LIAT board member, and current Saint Lucia Tourism Authority board member; and Claudio Buncamper, Chief Commercial Officer of Sunrise Airways.
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The panel delivered a clear and urgent message: the Caribbean cannot realize its full tourism and economic potential without reliable, efficient, and affordable regional airlift.
Panelists called for decisive, collaborative action to break the cycle of fragmented connectivity that has long hindered inter-island travel and regional integration. Among the bold solutions discussed were restructuring airspace to function as a single regional zone, reducing excessive aviation taxes, rethinking aircraft deployment for better route efficiency, and reforming visa policies that discourage intra-regional movement.?
The session underscored that fixing airlift is not just a transportation issueit is a strategic necessity for the Caribbeans future.
Linking tourism to local economies
The importance of tourism linkages was addressed in a session led by CHTA Immediate?Past?President Nicola Madden-Greig, who emphasized strengthening connections with agriculture, manufacturing, and entertainment to ensure tourism dollars reach local communities.
Panelists Aswad Morgan, Director, Jamaica Manufacturers Association, and Winston Anderson, Regional Managing Director, Eastern Caribbean, Sandals Resorts, shared examples of successful cross-sector collaboration, highlighting tourisms role as a catalyst for broader economic development.
Sustainability in action
Hosted by Hon. Charles Fernandez, Minister of Tourism for Antigua and Barbuda, the sustainability session spotlighted bold, innovative initiatives shaping a more resilient future.
The panel featured Ambassador Diann Black-Layne, Director of Environment for Antigua and Barbuda; Dr. Deborah Brosnan of Deborah Brosnan & Associates; Johnella Bradshaw, Redonda Ecosystem Reserve Coordinator with the Environmental Awareness Group; and Ruleo Camacho, Marine Ecologist and Consultant to the National Parks Authority.
The session highlighted Barbudas emergence as a model for community-led, eco-conscious development; the extraordinary ecological restoration of Redonda into a thriving nature reserve; and Antigua and Barbudas pioneering coral reef restoration projects, which are supporting marine biodiversity and climate resilience.
Together, these efforts reinforce the countrys leadership in sustainable tourism and offer a blueprint for environmental stewardship across the region.
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