Antigua and Barbuda’s Tourism Minister Charles “Max” Fernandez has been elected chairman of the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO), placing the country at the helm of the regional body as it advances efforts to strengthen tourism competitiveness and cooperation across the Caribbean.
Fernandez was elected on October 6 during the CTO’s Annual General Meeting in Georgetown, Guyana. He will lead the organization’s Council of Ministers and Commissioners of Tourism, succeeding Barbados Tourism and International Transport Minister Ian Gooding-Edghill, who served a two-year term.
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The leadership transition also gives Antigua and Barbuda a second senior role within the organization. Colin James, chief executive officer of the Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority, has been elected chairman of the CTO Board of Directors, succeeding Andrea Franklin, chief executive officer of Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc.
The appointments come as the CTO continues implementing its Reimagine Plan, which focuses on advocacy, market competitiveness, tourism intelligence, sustainable and regenerative tourism, and people development. The organization is also emphasizing the importance of strengthening the local businesses, services and infrastructure that support the tourism industry.
The strategy includes developing the tourism workforce, increasing the participation of local suppliers, improving infrastructure and logistics, and expanding the use of technology. It also seeks to strengthen links between tourism and other economic sectors, including agriculture, manufacturing and the creative industries, allowing more Caribbean businesses to benefit from visitor spending.
CTO Secretary-General and Chief Executive Officer Dona Regis-Prosper welcomed Fernandez and James to their new positions, saying the leadership change comes at an important stage in the organization’s development. She also thanked Gooding-Edghill and Franklin for their service and contributions to regional collaboration.
The CTO Board of Directors also elected vice chairs to represent several Caribbean subregions. The United States Virgin Islands will represent U.S. territories, the British Virgin Islands will represent British Overseas Territories, and Saint-Martin will represent French-speaking territories. St. Kitts and Nevis and The Bahamas were elected to represent CARICOM countries, while the selection of a representative for the Dutch-speaking territories was deferred until a subsequent meeting.
The elections took place ahead of the opening of the CTO’s State of the Tourism Industry Conference (SOTIC) 2026 in Guyana on October 7. Held under the theme “Tourism Futures: Smart, Sustainable and Inclusive,” the conference brings together tourism officials, private-sector representatives, researchers and regional partners to discuss the industry’s future.
Fernandez and James will now oversee their respective leadership responsibilities as the CTO continues working with member countries and tourism stakeholders to advance regional cooperation, strengthen local capacity and support sustainable tourism development across the Caribbean.
