Caribbean Tourism Organization set to host upcoming industry conference in Barbados in

The Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) is set to host its 2025 State of the Tourism Industry Conference (SOTIC), an event dedicated to exploring innovative strategies to enhance airlift capacity and unlock new growth avenues across sports, wellness, and cruise tourism sectors. Scheduled from September 30 to October 3 at the Hilton Barbados Resort, organizers say that the conference will gather industry leaders, policymakers, and stakeholders to examine the key challenges and opportunities shaping the Caribbean’s position as a top global travel destination.

Under the overarching theme “Reimagining Caribbean Tourism: Research, Relevance and the Road Ahead,” SOTIC 2025 will feature a comprehensive lineup of high-level panel discussions, pioneering research presentations, and practical action steps. Attendees can access the full agenda at bit.ly/SOTICProgram2025.

A major feature of the event, according to a CTO release, is the highly anticipated session titled “Caribbean Tourism: Trends, Truths and Trajectories,” organized in collaboration with the Barbados Ministry of Tourism and International Transport, as well as Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc. Led by the CTO’s Research Department, this evidence-based dialogue will shed light on current regional tourism metrics, evolving market trends, and future projections, equipping stakeholders with critical insights to navigate the industry’s evolving landscape.

In addition, the conference will reportedly host a “Ministerial Exchange on Caribbean Tourism,” where policymakers and industry executives will engage in discussions centered around sustainable development, regional cooperation, and strategies to bolster connectivity both within the Caribbean and with international markets. The event will also delve into emerging growth opportunities in sectors such as medical tourism, wellness tourism, sports tourism, and the cruise and stay-over segments, with insights from key source markets including the United States, Canada, Latin America, and the EMEA region (Europe, the Middle East, and Africa).

On October 2, SOTIC will present the Regional Tourism Youth Congress, an initiative designed to highlight and empower the next generation of tourism ambassadors from CTO member nations.

Dona Regis-Prosper, CTO’s Secretary-General and CEO, expressed enthusiasm for the event, stating, “SOTIC 2025 promises to be a truly transformative event for our region, and the Caribbean Tourism Organization is proud to host it. 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 program will feature keynote speeches, engaging workshops, and networking opportunities, including dedicated sessions like “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,” hosted by the Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association.

Current sponsors for SOTIC 2025 include Liat Air and Tiki. The CTO invites other prominent organizations to participate as partners, offering valuable branding, speaking opportunities, and access to high-level decision-makers to support the region’s sustainable tourism development.

Interested parties can explore sponsorship options at https://bit.ly/soticsponsorship2025. For additional details about the conference, visit https://www.onecaribbean.org/events-calendar/sotic-2025.

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