Barbados to host CTO’s State of the Tourism Industry Conference

The Caribbean Tourism Organization will host the State of the Tourism Industry Conference in Barbados this year, with a focus on “Reimagining Caribbean Tourism: Research, Relevance and the Road Ahead.”

From September 30 to October 3, 2025, at the Hilton Barbados Resort, the conference will bring together government representatives, tourism executives, international partners, media, students, and stakeholders from across the region and beyond.

The Hilton Barbados Resort is the one-of-a-kind home to the 17th-century ruins of Charles Fort, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the perfect backdrop for the conference focus on tourism discussions, industry trends, research, and the future of travel in the Caribbean.

Discussions about sports tourism, medical tourism, and health and wellness will also be a key focus, as they have been identified as emerging sectors with significant growth potential. Sessions will help give destinations ideas for diversifying their tourism offerings, attracting new markets, and fostering more resilient and inclusive tourism economies. The conference will also tie directly into CTO’s “Reimagine 2025–2027” strategic plan.

SOTIC will also feature the annual Regional Tourism Youth Congress, engaging “Junior Ministers of Tourism” from CTO member countries and territories.

“Barbados offers an ideal setting for this forward-looking dialogue on Caribbean tourism,” said Dona Regis-Prosper, Secretary-General and CEO of the CTO. “As we reimagine the future of our sector, we must ground our strategies in solid research, ensure our actions are relevant to today’s traveler, and work together on a clear roadmap for what lies ahead.”

The conference will be hosted in partnership between the Barbados Ministry of Tourism and International Transport and Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc.

“As the host destination and headquarters of CTO, Barbados is proud to welcome the region’s tourism leaders for this timely exchange,” said Andrea Franklin, CEO of Barbados Tourism Marketing, Inc. and Chairman of the CTO Board of Directors. “The theme of this year’s conference speaks to the heart of our mission–to advance tourism that is informed, inclusive and impactful. We look forward to meaningful dialogue and actionable outcomes.”

The CTO is the Caribbean’s tourism development agency and have their headquarters in Barbados, with members from Dutch-, English-, and French-speaking countries and territories throughout the region, alongside private sector members. Their focus is to promote the Caribbean as a year-round, warm-weather destination, while leading sustainable tourism.

Find more details on registration, accommodations, and sponsorship on OneCaribbean.org.

Photo by Lorilee E.