Students from 16 nations to compete at the CTO Regional Tourism Youth Congress in Barbados.
BRIDGETOWN, Barbados — The Caribbean’s next generation of tourism leaders will converge in Barbados this October for the CTO Regional Tourism Youth Congress, a showcase designed to amplify youth perspectives on one of the region’s most critical industries.
Youth leaders to present fresh perspectives at the CTO Regional Tourism Youth Congress at SOTIC 2025
The event, scheduled for Oct. 2 during the State of the Tourism Industry Conference (SOTIC) 2025, will gather students aged 14 to 17 from 16 countries and territories across the Caribbean. Each participant will serve as a “Junior Minister or Commissioner of Tourism,” tasked with presenting ideas on the sector’s future direction.
The Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO), which announced the program Monday, described the congress as more than a competition. Sharon Banfield-Bovell, CTO’s director of resource mobilization and development, said it is a pipeline for grooming future policymakers and innovators. “This initiative transcends a simple competition,” she said. “It represents a fundamental pathway to developing future tourism advocates and innovators who will help define the trajectory of the Caribbean tourism sector.”
A platform beyond competition
The Youth Congress will unfold as a centerpiece of SOTIC 2025, with students not only competing but also joining master classes and workshops tailored to leadership development. The program includes a Tourism Youth Congress Master Class led by Ed Limon, cofounder and CEO of Winged Whale Media, known for his work in immersive media and virtual tourism, and a teen career workshop facilitated by Davina Layne of Your Corporate Image.
By placing youth in front of regional delegates, the CTO aims to highlight how innovation and fresh thinking can reshape tourism at a time when the industry is navigating climate challenges, sustainability demands, and digital transformation.
Building on regional tradition
The Youth Congress has become a fixture of the Caribbean tourism calendar since its launch in 2000. Last year in the Cayman Islands, Nevis’ Keyana Warner impressed judges and delegates to capture top honors at the 20th CTO Tropical Shipping Regional Tourism Youth Congress. Her victory illustrated how young voices are increasingly seen as credible contributors to regional policy discussions.
Barbados, hosting this year’s edition, follows a long line of destinations that have used the congress to promote youth engagement while positioning themselves as thought leaders in regional tourism.
Who’s competing in 2025
Sixteen countries and territories will be represented in this year’s competition: Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, the Bahamas, Barbados, the British Virgin Islands, the Cayman Islands, Dominica, Grenada, Jamaica, Nevis, Saint Lucia, St. Eustatius, St. Kitts, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Tobago, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Organizers said the event is supported by Breeze Travel Solutions, Carnival Corporation & plc, Caribbean Media Exchange (CMEx), Marketplace Excellence (MPE), and Winged Whale Media, all of which have backed the initiative as a vehicle for empowering youth and shaping future leadership pipelines.
Tourism’s youth imperative
Tourism remains the backbone of many Caribbean economies, accounting for more than 30 percent of GDP in some nations, according to World Bank data. With climate change, shifting travel trends, and the emergence of artificial intelligence reshaping global tourism, regional leaders have increasingly turned to young voices for new approaches.
Strengthening the region’s competitiveness also depends on addressing structural challenges such as airline access and connectivity, a subject the CTO has highlighted in recent forums on Caribbean air connectivity.
Industry analysts note that by positioning youth at the center of discussions, CTO is aligning education with real-world policy, creating a platform that prepares students for professional opportunities while also bolstering the region’s long-term growth.
As SOTIC 2025 approaches, all eyes will be on Barbados, where the next generation of Caribbean leaders is expected to outline their vision for tourism’s future, a sector that continues to define the region’s prosperity.
