{"id":354227,"date":"2025-12-21T11:21:15","date_gmt":"2025-12-21T15:21:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dominicanewsonline.com\/news\/?p=354227"},"modified":"2025-12-21T11:21:15","modified_gmt":"2025-12-21T15:21:15","slug":"caribbean-tourism-and-cruise-leaders-align-on-resilience-recovery-and-shared-growth","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dominicanewsonline.com\/news\/homepage\/caribbean-tourism-and-cruise-leaders-align-on-resilience-recovery-and-shared-growth\/","title":{"rendered":"Caribbean Tourism and cruise leaders align on resilience, recovery and shared growth"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"
CTO Chairman Ian Gooding-Edghill (left) with Royal Caribbean International President and CEO Michael Bayley after the Iconic Summit<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

 <\/p>\n

MIAMI (December 20, 2025) \u2013 Amid the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa in October this year, Caribbean tourism ministers, directors and executives gathered aboard Royal Caribbean\u2019s Icon of the Seas this month for an \u201cIconic Summit\u201d hosted during the Caribbean Tourism Organization\u2019s (CTO) second annual Caribbean Weekend in Miami, to discuss the cruise industry\u2019s pivotal role in recovery and long-term resilience and growth.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Royal Caribbean International President and CEO Michael Bayley detailed his company\u2019s rapid response to the crisis, including delivering more than 100 pallets of essential supplies, generators, food and water to Jamaica\u2019s port of Falmouth, working with partners to support distribution in hard-hit areas, and helping to provide meals in affected communities. In a candid discussion with CTO Secretary-General & CEO Dona Regis-Prosper, Bayley said the company sees itself as part of the Caribbean community: \u201cI think over the years we\u2019ve always tried to support the Caribbean communities. Especially in times of crisis, we answer the phone, and we try our best.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

CTO Chairman Ian Gooding-Edghill, Barbados\u2019 Minister of Tourism and International Transport, thanked Royal Caribbean and his regional partners for their compassion and generosity in supporting Jamaica and Haiti in the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He also stressed the importance of building bridges between governments and the private sector, between countries and industries, and between challenges and shared opportunities. \u201cThe future of Caribbean tourism depends on our ability to reimagine together \u2014 to innovate, to collaborate and to believe in the boundless potential of our region,\u201d he said, emphasizing data-driven policy, stronger connectivity and growth that prioritizes local communities.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Bayley called for \u201cmaster planning\u201d to ensure destinations can manage sustainable tourism development. He highlighted opportunities for cruise lines and destinations to collaborate and expand pathways to employment for Caribbean youth, including meeting with Caribbean labor ministers and industry leaders to address long-standing barriers to workforce participation. In addition, he elaborated on Royal Caribbean Group\u2019s focus on forward-thinking sustainability initiatives such as environmental technologies, shore power systems, and resilient port development.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

As the region welcomed millions of cruise visitors in 2025 despite setbacks, the summit delivered a clear message: with storms growing fiercer and more frequent, the Caribbean\u2019s tourism engine remains vital to economies and jobs \u2014 and resilience must be built into every plan.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The event also featured cultural touches, including a Wizard of Oz performance and an appearance by the ship\u2019s \u201cChief Dog Officer,\u201d Rover, but the tone remained purposeful \u2014 including a call for all hands-on deck, and a reminder that tourism is everyone\u2019s business.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"\"
Caribbean tourism leaders on board Icon of the Seas with Royal Caribbean executives<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"  MIAMI (December 20, 2025) \u2013 Amid the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa in October this year, Caribbean tourism ministers, directors and executives gathered aboard Royal Caribbean\u2019s Icon of the Seas this month for an \u201cIconic Summit\u201d hosted during the Caribbean…","protected":false},"author":27,"featured_media":354228,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_cbd_carousel_blocks":"[]","footnotes":""},"categories":[77,235,9,14,20],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-354227","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-homepage","category-homepage-carousel","category-news","category-regional","category-tourism-publicity"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nCaribbean Tourism and cruise leaders align on resilience, recovery and shared growth - 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