Antigua and Barbuda, May 19, 2025 — This Monday, the Caribbean Travel Forum 2025 officially kicks off in Antigua and Barbuda, marking the start of the most important annual event in the Caribbean tourism industry: the Caribbean Travel Marketplace, organized by the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA).

Held at the luxurious Sandals Grande Antigua Resort and Spa, the forum brings together ministers, experts, entrepreneurs, and tourism stakeholders from across the region to discuss current challenges and build joint strategies to ensure sustainable and inclusive tourism development.

“As tourism and hospitality continue to evolve, this forum remains a vital space for strategic dialogue on key issues such as air connectivity, sustainability, and development-aligned policies,” said Vanessa Ledesma, CEO of CHTA.

“This is an exciting time for us as we welcome our valued tourism partners from around the world to Antigua and Barbuda,” said the Hon. Charles Fernández, Minister of Tourism, Civil Aviation, Transportation, and Investment of Antigua and Barbuda.
“We are thrilled to showcase the beauty and culture of our twin-island paradise as host of the 43rd edition of the CHTA’s Caribbean Travel Marketplace. This event fosters meaningful partnerships that drive business growth and economic success across the Caribbean, and we look forward to welcoming everyone to our shores for a truly immersive and productive Caribbean Travel Marketplace 2025.”

 Key Topics of the Forum:

• Caribbean tourism trends, with a data-driven outlook presented by Olivier Ponti (ForwardKeys).
• Impact of global disruptions, discussed by Zeek Coleman (Tourism Economics), addressing geopolitical instability, inflation, and supply chain changes.
• Tourism policy agenda, led by James Hepple (Tourism Analytics), focused on public-private collaboration.
• Intra-Caribbean air connectivity, one of the region’s most pressing challenges, explored by government officials, airlines, and transportation experts.
• Community development, focused on strategies to ensure tourism directly benefits local economies.
• Sustainable tourism, featuring conservation projects in Barbuda and the ecological restoration of Redonda, presented by Minister Charles Fernandez.

 A Showcase for Caribbean Tourism Business

On May 20 and 21, the event continues with the opening of the Marketplace floor, where international buyers and Caribbean tourism suppliers will meet in one-on-one business appointments. This setup has proven essential in previous editions to secure new commercial partnerships and increase the global presence of Caribbean destinations.

 Toward a New Regional Tourism Model

With this year’s edition, Antigua and Barbuda positions itself as a hub for Caribbean tourism transformation, offering not only natural beauty and world-class infrastructure, but also a strong commitment to sustainability and inclusion.

The Caribbean Travel Forum 2025 represents a unique opportunity to rethink Caribbean tourism with a strategic, resilient, and integrative vision at a time when the region must project itself as a safe, competitive destination that aligns with the expectations of today’s global traveler.