Caribbean tourism authorities delivered a powerful message at ITB Berlin 2026, warning that inadequate climate adaptation strategies threaten the very foundation of tourism-dependent regions. The urgent call to action came during multiple sessions at the global tourism convention, where leaders emphasized the critical gap between climate awareness and practical implementation.
Dona Regis-Prosper, Secretary-General and CEO of the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO), drew from personal experience with devastating hurricanes to underscore the immediacy of climate threats. “There is no teacher as great as practical experience,” she stated during the session ‘The Climate Adaptation Gap in Tourism: From Risk to Resilience.’ Regis-Prosper advocated for moving beyond theoretical frameworks to implement concrete, actionable measures that build genuine resilience.
CTO Deputy Director of Sustainable Tourism Narendra Ramgulam reinforced this perspective, noting that Caribbean nations already confront visible climate impacts including reef degradation and beach erosion that directly affect visitor experiences and local livelihoods. “When you talk about climate risk, we see it and we feel it more than others,” Ramgulam observed during the session ‘These Ideas Will Transform Tourism.’ He highlighted the particular challenge smaller island states face in securing funding for climate projects despite having abundant risk assessments and project concepts.
A significant development at the convention was the strengthened partnership between CTO and The Travel Foundation, marked by a renewed Memorandum of Understanding. The agreement, signed by Regis-Prosper and Travel Foundation CEO Jeremy Sampson, establishes a collaborative framework for advancing sustainable, climate-resilient tourism across the Caribbean.
Sampson characterized the Caribbean as simultaneously on the frontlines of climate change and at the forefront of innovation. He emphasized that the partnership aims to align climate action with destination stewardship and resource allocation, ensuring tourism continues benefiting local communities amid growing climate risks.
The CTO maintained a prominent presence throughout the three-day event, conducting bilateral meetings under a unified Caribbean banner to build partnerships focused on resilience and regenerative tourism approaches.