NEW YORK – The annual Caribbean Tourism Week kicked off in Manhattan on Monday, opening a seven-day showcase of the region’s tourism offerings as industry leaders lean into cautious optimism amid shifting global geopolitics and evolving travel demand patterns. Organized by the Barbados-headquartered Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO), the event aligns this year with the start of Caribbean American Heritage Month, carried out under the unifying banner “One Caribbean: Infinite Experiences.”
Addressing attendees at the opening ceremony, CTO Chairman Ian Gooding-Edghill, who also serves as Barbados’ Minister of Tourism, highlighted the sector’s resilient ongoing performance that has outpaced pre-COVID-19 levels. He reported that in 2025, the Caribbean tourism industry extended its steady growth trajectory, recording a 2.5% rise in visitor arrivals compared to 2024. That added roughly 900,000 additional visitors to the region, pushing total arrivals above pre-pandemic benchmarks set in 2019.
Cruise travel, a core pillar of the region’s tourism ecosystem, has demonstrated particular strength, Gooding-Edghill noted. Cruise ship visits grew 5.2% year-over-year in 2025, and now stand more than 16% above 2019 pre-pandemic volumes. “These numbers confirm the lasting pull of the Caribbean tourism brand, and prove that global demand for one-of-a-kind authentic Caribbean experiences remains undimmed,” he said.
Looking ahead to the rest of 2026, CTO forecasts hold to a cautiously optimistic outlook. The organization projects moderate but consistent growth for the year, driven by expanded air connectivity between source markets and the region, closer collaborative policy and marketing coordination across Caribbean nations, and sustained global consumer demand for immersive, experience-focused leisure travel.
Even with the positive near-term outlook, Gooding-Edghill warned against complacency, emphasizing that the region must continuously invest in updating, strengthening, and protecting its global competitive position. That need, he explained, is what makes proactive market diversification a top strategic priority for the CTO and member states.
To date, the Latin American market has emerged as a fast-growing source of new visitors, supported by close geographic proximity, expanding direct air links, and rising consumer interest in multi-destination Caribbean getaways. “This is no longer just an emerging opportunity—it is a rapidly accelerating growth driver for our region,” Gooding-Edghill said. At the same time, the CTO is working to deepen ties with the African tourism market through cultural exchange partnerships, connections with Caribbean diaspora communities, and long-term planning to expand direct air access.
Gooding-Edghill framed the African market as a critical long-term growth frontier for Caribbean tourism development. Beyond economic gains, he reaffirmed that tourism remains the foundational economic pillar for most Caribbean nations, supporting millions of jobs, attracting foreign direct investment, nurturing local entrepreneurship, and opening opportunity for communities across the region. It also serves as a bridge between Caribbean cultures and global audiences, sharing the unique richness of Caribbean heritage and community with visitors from around the world.
“These are uncertain times, but this is a resilient region with extraordinary talent, proven endurance, and bold ambition,” he said. “If we stay united, focused on the future, and disciplined in our strategy, there is no limit to what we can achieve together as One Caribbean.”
Amid ongoing global geopolitical shifts and rising operational costs that present ongoing risks to the travel sector, Gooding-Edghill noted that regional tourism leaders and industry partners have a shared responsibility to meet current challenges head-on, upholding the region’s longstanding tradition of turning adversity into competitive advantage. Recalling past crises the region has navigated, he pointed out that each challenge has left Caribbean tourism stronger and more resilient than before, with increased investment and improved capacity to adapt to change.
“It is our job as tourism leaders and industry partners to guide the CTO and our member states, ensuring that the millions of people across the region who depend on tourism for stable employment can have confidence we are leading them in the right direction,” he said. Closing his remarks, he reiterated the call for continued unity: “Let us keep moving forward together, as one Caribbean with infinite opportunities ahead.”