The Caribbean Tourism Organization convened its State of the Tourism Industry Conference in Georgetown, Guyana, spanning October 5 to 9. Attendees included tourism ministers, directors, corporate executives, and international partners. On the last day, 10 Caribbean destinations staged media briefings to showcase emerging travel trends.
Sports Tourism Takes Center Stage
Cardigan Connor, Anguilla’s minister of health, tourism, and sports, announced that Anguilla will host the inaugural Caribbean Tourism Organization Sports Tourism Conference from August 12 to 17, 2027. The event will focus on sports and health and wellness initiatives across the Caribbean. Anguilla also plans to expand its tennis and golf events beyond its annual Eastern Caribbean Golf Association Championship and Anguilla Tennis Academy programs.
Antigua is set to host a robust sports tourism calendar, including three cricket tournaments and the debut of the Antigua Racing Cup. Bermuda will promote its shoulder-season sports events, such as the Bermuda Gold Cup and the World Rugby Classic.
Community-Led Tourism Gains Momentum
Guyana is focusing on attracting adventure travelers through authentic, community-led experiences that prioritize Indigenous communities. Five local tourism businesses have joined Tourism Cares’ Global Meaningful Travel Map, a platform connecting travelers with sustainable, community-backed operations.
St. Lucia is advancing community-based tourism with the debut of an underwater sculpture park created by resident artists. The destination will also offer immersive excursions that build connections between visitors and locals. Dexter Percil, research and planning manager for the Saint Lucia Tourism Authority, emphasized the goal of making St. Lucian locals owners of the tourism product.
New Resorts and Accommodations on the Horizon
Across the Caribbean, several new resorts are set to open in 2027. Turks and Caicos will see six new hotel openings on Providenciales, including The Loren Turks and Caicos and Kimpton Turks & Caicos. The destination is also developing its outer islands, with two resorts set to open on North Caicos in 2029 and 2030.
Anguilla unveiled a growth plan focused on a “low volume, high value” model, with several new properties set to debut this winter. Bermuda plans to increase its hotel rooms by 33% by 2027, including the reopening of the Fairmont Southampton and the debut of The Loren at Elbow Beach.