The Cayman Islands will host the next tourism industry conference this year, according to a local resident newscast.
This time it is called a high-profile event “Caribbean tourism – nourishes our lifeblood,” will bring together industry leaders to discuss new opportunities for tourism growth and development, aviation industry sustainability and more.
The conference will be held from September 2 to 6 in the Westin Grand Cayman Seven Mile Beach Resort and Spa.
The list of participants is yet to be announced, but it is expected that the biggest players in the industry will actively participate.
“As tourism solidifies its role as the region’s key economic driver, SOTIC convenes a diverse range of regional and global leaders, thought leaders, decision makers and influencers.” The Caribbean Tourism Organization said this in a statement.
“Together they will devise a strategy to promote competitiveness and sustainable growth within the sector.”
This conference comes at a time when the Caribbean tourism industry as a whole is breaking all historical records.
Data collected across countries and territories shows that at least eleven islands are making a miraculous recovery in the wake of the pandemic.
Most of these destinations are expanding their hotel infrastructure, improving their international ports and airports and creating thousands of new jobs in the hospitality industry.
More than ever, international travelers are seduced by the paradise beaches of the Caribbean and the brand new all-inclusives.
The travel and world tour collected facts of the best performing Caribbean destinations in the first and second quarters of last year, and here’s how tourism increased:
| Destination | Q1 vs 2023 | Q2 vs 2023 |
| Curacao | +27% | +22% |
| Grenada | +25% | +22% |
| American virgin islands | +23% | +9% |
| Aruba | +21% | +15% |
| St Martin | +21% | +15% |
| Puerto Rico | +18% | +16% |
| Saint Kitts and Nevis | +18% | +16% |
| Cayman Islands | +16% | + |
Last year, this sector saw a staggering 14.3 percent increase overall, surpassing all global recovery figures. This is reported by the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO).
Islands like the US Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, St. Maarten, Anguilla, the Turks and Caicos Islands, Aruba, Curaçao, Guyana, Grenada, Jamaica and the Dominican Republic all surpassed 2019 figures. The most impressive aspect is that most of them achieved this with a 50% recovery rate.
“Based on preliminary data provided to date by Caribbean destinations, tourist visits in 2023 amounted to approximately 32.2 million,” That’s a figure never seen before, according to CTO Secretary General Dona Regis-Prosper.
