The Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) STC 2026 Conference, held in San Pedro, Belize, concluded after three days of discussions, institutional addresses, and an emotional awards ceremony, delivering a strong call to transform the Caribbean tourism model toward more sustainable, resilient, and regenerative frameworks.

The closing session brought together key regional tourism leaders, including Belize’s Minister of Tourism, Hon. Anthony Mahler; the CEO of the Ministry of Tourism, Youth, Sports and Diaspora Relations, Nicole Usher; Chief Tourism Officer Josue Carballo; and Deputy Director of Sustainable Tourism at the Caribbean Tourism Organization, Narendra Ramgulam. All attended the closing ceremony and the presentation of the Sustainable Tourism Excellence Awards.

The keynote closing address was delivered by CTO Secretary-General and CEO Dona Regis-Prosper, who emphasized human connection, Caribbean identity, and the evolution of regional tourism. “What we have experienced here over the past few days is more than a conference; it is connection, inspiration, and a touch of island magic,” she said, adding that sustainable tourism requires intention, consistency, and collaboration across all stakeholders.

Regis-Prosper also highlighted that the awards presented during the ceremony represent innovation, leadership, and commitment rather than symbolic recognition alone. “Behind every award is a story of vision, preservation, and purpose that defines the character of Caribbean tourism,” she noted.

Throughout the conference, participants explored the region’s transition toward blue, green, orange, and purple economy models, integrating sustainability, culture, creativity, and resilience into tourism development strategies.

Belize Tourism Board Director Evan Tillett stressed the practical dimension of the discussions, stating: “We have moved from aspirations to implementation, examining how sustainable tourism is applied, measured, and maintained with real stakeholder engagement.”

Meanwhile, Sharon Banfield Bovell, Director of Resource Mobilization and Development at the CTO, underscored the importance of financing mechanisms, noting that public, private, and blended funding are essential to scale bankable sustainable tourism projects.

Narendra Ramgulam reinforced the need for coordinated action, stating that sustainability requires continuous commitment and concrete implementation to generate real impact across destinations.

CTO Sustainable Tourism Awards

The closing ceremony featured the presentation of four major awards:

• Community-Based Tourism Award: Guyana, received by Candace Phillips
• Excellence in Sustainable Tourism Award: Turneffe Flats, received by Craig Hayes
• Destination Stewardship and Resilience Award: Jamaica, received by Larisa McBean
• Regenerative Tourism Award: Turks and Caicos National Trust, received by Jasmine Thomas

The conference concluded with a unified message from regional leaders emphasizing the need to move from dialogue to action. The CTO highlighted that Caribbean tourism is at a pivotal moment, where the integration of color-economy models and stronger sustainable investment frameworks will define the sector’s future.

STC 2026 closed with a clear conclusion: Caribbean tourism is entering a new phase where sustainability, regeneration, and regional cooperation will serve as the core pillars of long-term development.