{"id":357016,"date":"2026-02-17T13:36:52","date_gmt":"2026-02-17T17:36:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dominicanewsonline.com\/news\/?p=357016"},"modified":"2026-02-17T13:36:52","modified_gmt":"2026-02-17T17:36:52","slug":"caribbean-tourism-organization-ceo-agriculture-is-key-to-regions-resilience","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dominicanewsonline.com\/news\/homepage\/homepage-carousel\/caribbean-tourism-organization-ceo-agriculture-is-key-to-regions-resilience\/","title":{"rendered":"Caribbean Tourism Organization CEO: Agriculture is key to region’s resilience"},"content":{"rendered":"
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L\u2013R at Government House, St. Croix: Marvelle Sealy, Executive Assistant and Office Manager, Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO); Dona Regis-Prosper, CTO Secretary-General and CEO; RoseAnne Farrington, USVI Deputy Commissioner of Tourism and Deputy Chair, CTO Cruise Committee; Albert Bryan Jr., Governor of the USVI; and Narendra Ramgulam, Deputy Director of Sustainable Tourism, CTO. Photo: CTO<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Dona Regis-Prosper, serving as the Secretary-General and CEO of the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO), recently emphasized that the true foundation of\u00a0 \u00a0Caribbean prosperity is rooted in the land itself, rather than in corporate boardrooms.<\/p>\n

According to a CTO release, during the opening of the 54th annual AgriFest, on February 17, 2026, in St. Croix,\u00a0 a three-day event celebrating agriculture and technological innovation, Regis-Prosper addressed a packed audience regarding the future stability of Caribbean economies.\u00a0She reportedly delivered a compelling reminder that the success of modern tourism is deeply intertwined with the Caribbean\u2019s agricultural heritage.<\/p>\n

The event was framed as a reflection on regional identity, challenging the notion that tourism should overshadow local agricultural industries.<\/p>\n

\u201cBefore there were hotels, airports, seaports (and) cruise ships, there was land, soil and cultivation,\u201d she said. \u201cTourism really began in a garden.\u201d<\/p>\n

Regis-Prosper, whose career includes involvement in energy projects on St. Croix during the 1990s, commended the U.S. Virgin Islands for maintaining agriculture as a core element of its social and economic structure, rather than relegating it to a secondary role.<\/p>\n

\u201cHere in St. Croix, agriculture is not a side story. It is the foundation of your global identity,\u201d she explained, referencing the historical significance of industries such as sugar in St. Croix, bananas in St. Lucia, coffee in Jamaica, and cocoa in Trinidad & Tobago.<\/p>\n

She highlighted a changing trend among travelers who increasingly seek authentic sensory experiences over traditional luxury indicators. This shift elevates local farmers to a central position in the tourism value chain.<\/p>\n

\u201cVisitors don\u2019t always remember square footage, d\u00e9cor or thread counts,\u201d Regis-Prosper remarked. \u201cThey remember taste, smell, storytelling \u2014 or, as I like to say, truth-telling. And they remember how they felt.\u201d<\/p>\n

Supporting her vision, Jennifer Matarangas-King, the U.S. Virgin Islands\u2019 Commissioner of Tourism, shared current data indicating that AgriFest has become one of the Territory\u2019s most active tourism weekends.<\/p>\n

\u201cOutside of the Crucian Christmas Festival, Agrifest is the biggest weekend that we have,\u201d Matarangas-King said. \u201cRight now, every room is filled. You can\u2019t get a rental car. I think people are probably sleeping on the beach at this point \u2014 so that\u2019s good for us.\u201d<\/p>\n

According to the release, she also reported that three cruise ships would bring over 8,000 visitors during the holiday weekend, alongside thousands of residents and members of the diaspora. Matarangas-King emphasized that the Territory’s farm-to-table culture is more than a marketing trend; it is an authentic cultural practice passed down through generations.<\/p>\n

\u201cFarm-to-table is not a movement here,\u201d said Matarangas-King. \u201cIt\u2019s a way of life that spans generations.\u201d<\/p>\n

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CTO Secretary-General Dona Regis-Prosper (right) presents a handcrafted salad bowl to Jennifer Matarangas-King, Commissioner of Tourism, U.S. Virgin Islands at Agrifest 2026. Photo: CTO<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Territorial leadership took the stage to discuss strategies for land use, food security, and resilience. Governor Albert Bryan Jr. praised Agriculture Commissioner Dr. Louis Petersen\u2019s leadership, framing land ownership as a pathway to intergenerational wealth and community resilience.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe all need to think about how we live, how we eat, and what we grow,\u201d Bryan said. \u201cGood food grows in the yard. Actually, everything grows here.<\/p>\n

He detailed ongoing efforts by his administration to acquire land for preservation and agricultural purposes, urging young residents to view their land as a vital asset.<\/p>\n

Looking ahead, Regis-Prosper referenced the CTO\u2019s Reimagine Plan, which promotes sustainable and regenerative tourism. She stressed the importance of leveraging technology as an ally in building resilience.<\/p>\n

“Agriculture plus technology plus strategic foresight equals resilience,\u201d she said. \u201cAnd resilience is something that St. Croix knows well.\u201d<\/p>\n

Her concluding message served as a regional call to action: \u201cTourism should never replace the garden. Tourism should protect it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ahead of the event\u2019s opening, the CTO delegation, including Deputy Director of Sustainable Tourism Narendra Ramgulam and Executive Assistant Marvelle Sealy, engaged in discussions with Governor Bryan, Commissioner Matarangas-King, and Deputy Commissioner of Tourism RoseAnne Farrington. The focus was on fostering regional cooperation and expanding agro-tourism initiatives across the Caribbean.<\/p>\n