The island of Ambergris Caye, in San Pedro, is hosting from April 27 to 30 the 17th edition of the Caribbean Sustainable Tourism Conference (STC 2026), one of the region’s leading platforms focused on responsible tourism development.

Organized by the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) in collaboration with the Belize Tourism Board, the conference gathers ministers of tourism, policymakers, private sector leaders, development agencies and sustainability experts from across the Caribbean and beyond.

Under the theme “Tourism in Full Color: Integrating Blue, Green, Orange and Beyond Economies into Sustainable Planning and Development,” the event introduces a multidimensional framework that connects environmental sustainability, economic innovation, cultural development and social inclusion.

A strategic platform for Caribbean tourism

STC 2026 serves as a key forum to address the structural challenges facing Caribbean tourism, particularly in the context of climate change, ecosystem preservation and evolving global travel trends.

Key thematic pillars include:

• The blue economy, focused on marine resource sustainability
• The green economy, promoting environmentally responsible tourism practices
• The orange economy, leveraging culture and creativity as tourism drivers
• Cross-cutting themes such as resilience, inclusion and technological innovation

From dialogue to action

The conference agenda features high-level plenary sessions, ministerial roundtables, technical workshops and field visits designed to translate policy discussions into actionable solutions.

Highlights include:

• Opening ceremony and keynote on a new development paradigm
• Ministerial discussions on sustainable tourism policies
• Sessions on green and blue financing, decarbonization and regenerative tourism
• Innovation-focused discussions on technology and emerging tourism economies
• On-site sustainability experiences across Belize

Belize at the center of sustainable tourism

Hosting STC 2026 reinforces Belize’s position as a leader in sustainable tourism, particularly through its commitment to marine conservation and biodiversity protection within the Mesoamerican Reef system.

The conference underscores the Caribbean’s growing role as a global reference point for innovative and resilient tourism models.