San Pedro, Belize. With broad participation from ministers, tourism authorities, international organizations, and private sector representatives, the 17th Caribbean Conference on Sustainable Tourism Development (STC 2026) was officially inaugurated, organized by the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) in partnership with the Belize Tourism Board.

Under the theme “Tourism in Full Color,” the event positions Belize as a regional hub for the debate on the future of sustainable tourism, integrating blue, green, orange and other dimensions into a more inclusive, resilient, and community-based development model.

Human-centered and regional tourism

Belize’s Minister of Tourism and Diaspora Relations, Hon. Anthony Mahler, emphasized the need to redefine the Caribbean tourism model:

“Tourism must serve our people first. The survival of our economies and our planet depends on how we manage it.”

Mahler also highlighted regional identity:

“The Caribbean is in a unique position, where natural beauty, cultural richness, and shared ambition converge. We cannot rely solely on tourism; we must reinvent it.”

Similarly, CTO Chair Dona Regis-Prosper underscored the importance of the gathering:

“This conference provides Belize with an opportunity to confidently declare where we stand on sustainability. We must move from dialogue to implementation.”

Indigenous tourism and system transformation

A central address was delivered by global Indigenous tourism leader Dame Pania Tyson-Nathan, who presented a critical perspective on the current model:

“Tourism at its best is not just about where we go, but whose place we are in.”

She also warned about structural imbalances in the sector:

“The places creating value are often the ones carrying the cost. We must reshape the system, not just grow it.”

Belize as host and regional bridge

San Pedro Mayor Gualberto “Wally” Núñez delivered the official welcome:

“It is a great honor to welcome you to La Isla Bonita for this Sustainable Tourism Conference.”

Local authorities also emphasized the strategic value of the destination:

“The Belize Barrier Reef is not only a natural treasure, it is the foundation of our tourism economy.”

CTO vision and global context

CTO Council Chair and Barbados Tourism Minister Hon. Ian Gooding-Edghill warned about sector challenges:

“The Caribbean cannot simply depend on tourism. We must reimagine it.”

He added:

“This conference is not only about sustainability in the traditional sense, but about integration and innovation.”

Conference Director Evan Tillett highlighted Belize’s development model:

“What we protect sustains us. Our natural environment is the foundation of tourism.”