At a landmark gathering for Caribbean tourism governance, Antigua and Barbuda’s top tourism official has secured a historic leadership role that places the twin-island nation at the center of the region’s travel and hospitality strategy. The Honourable H. Charles “Max” Fernandez, Minister of Tourism, Civil Aviation, Transportation and Investment for Antigua and Barbuda, won unanimous backing from regional counterparts to take the position of Chairman of the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) Council of Ministers and Commissioners of Tourism.
This election marks a watershed moment for Antigua and Barbuda: it has been more than 15 years since a representative of the nation held the chairmanship of the CTO, the Caribbean’s preeminent body dedicated to advancing regional tourism development. The appointment comes at a critical turning point for the Caribbean’s travel sector, which continues to navigate shifting global economic and travel patterns after years of unprecedented disruption.
Fernandez’s nomination was put forward during the CTO Annual General Meeting by Anguilla’s Tourism Minister Hon. Cardigan Connor, with seconding support from Jamaica’s Tourism Minister Hon. Edmund Bartlett. No opposing candidates earned support, resulting in a unanimous vote of confidence from across the region’s tourism leadership. He will complete the handover from outgoing Chairman Ian Gooding-Edghill, Barbados’ Minister of Tourism and International Transport.
In a rare alignment of leadership that expands Antigua and Barbuda’s influence within the CTO, Colin James, Chief Executive Officer of the Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority, will also step into the role of Chairman of the CTO Board of Directors alongside Fernandez’s appointment. This dual leadership placement solidifies the twin-island nation’s guiding role in shaping the organization’s near-term priorities.
Speaking after his confirmation, Fernandez framed the appointment as a collective duty rather than a singular national achievement. “This is not simply an Antigua and Barbuda moment; it is a Caribbean responsibility,” he stated. “Tourism remains the economic lifeblood of so many of our countries and territories, and at a time of tremendous global change, our responsibility is to ensure that this industry remains competitive, resilient, inclusive and, above all, beneficial to the people of the Caribbean.”
The incoming chair has laid out three core priorities for his tenure that aim to reshape the regional tourism sector for long-term sustainability. First, he will prioritize advancing women into leadership roles at every operational and executive level of Caribbean tourism, alongside expanding targeted investment to nurture the next generation of regional tourism professionals. Second, improving and expanding regional air and sea connectivity will remain a top strategic focus, a key lever for boosting intra-regional travel and reducing reliance on long-haul tourist flows.
Fernandez brings decades of proven leadership in Caribbean tourism to the role, earning regional acclaim for his steady steering of Antigua and Barbuda’s tourism sector through the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, when he was named Caribbean Tourism Minister of the Year for 2020/2021. His election took place while he is in Georgetown, Guyana, participating in the 2026 State of the Tourism Industry Conference (SOTIC), which is convening this year under the theme “Tourism Futures: Smart, Sustainable and Inclusive.”
Ahead of the official conference opening, Fernandez took part in the CTO’s closed-door Council of Ministers meetings and Annual General Meeting, and featured as a headline speaker at the inaugural Future Leaders Forum. At the event, he engaged directly with university students and emerging industry professionals to exchange ideas on the future trajectory of Caribbean tourism. He is also scheduled to take part in the official launch of SeaSuiteMagazine, a new CTO-produced publication that highlights and honors women trailblazers across every segment of the Caribbean tourism industry.
Fernandez closed his initial remarks by thanking his regional colleagues for the trust they placed in him to lead the council, and paid tribute to outgoing chair Gooding-Edghill for his thoughtful stewardship of the organization through a period of ongoing recovery and transition. “This is our Caribbean. This is our industry. And its future must be one that we shape together,” he said.