Caribbean tourism officials are calling for urgent action to ensure a larger share of tourism earnings remains within the region, arguing that the Caribbean must shift from being a largely extractive tourism economy to one that delivers greater and more sustainable benefits to its people.
The issue was highlighted during a press conference at the opening of the Caribbean Travel Marketplace 2026 in Antigua and Barbuda, featuring Jamaica’s Minister of Tourism Edmund Bartlett, Barbados’ Minister of Tourism and International Transport Ian Gooding-Edghill, and Caribbean Tourism Organization Secretary-General Dona Regis-Prosper.
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Tourism Revenue Leakage a Major Concern
Bartlett said that although tourism remains one of the Caribbean’s most important economic sectors, the region retains only a small fraction of the money generated by visitors.
“The retention level of the tourism dollar in the Caribbean is the lowest in the world,” Bartlett said.
He noted that while tourism accounts for between 40 and 85 percent of foreign exchange earnings in some Caribbean countries, the region keeps only about 15 to 20 cents of every tourism dollar spent.
By comparison, countries such as India retain approximately 60 percent of tourism earnings, while the Dominican Republic retains about 50 percent.
“There is an asymmetry that must be corrected,” Bartlett said. “It is time for the Caribbean to reap the full benefits of tourism.”
Strengthening the Supply Side
Bartlett, who now chairs the CTO’s newly established Supply Side Committee, said the Caribbean has successfully developed demand for its tourism product but has not secured sufficient ownership of the industries that supply the sector.
“The supply side must now be owned by the people of the Caribbean so that the wealth generated by tourism can remain in the region,” he emphasized.
The committee was created under the CTO’s Reimagine Plan and will focus on strengthening regional production, logistics, supply chains, workforce development, financing, and investment.
Regis-Prosper said the committee’s terms of reference are built around eight key pillars, including tourism linkages, infrastructure, digital innovation, financing, labor mobility, and workforce development.
Scaling Up Local Production
Bartlett said one of the committee’s primary objectives is to help Caribbean businesses expand beyond small-scale operations.
“We are regarded as a region of samples,” he said. “We have excellent products, but we need to scale up.”
Describing tourism as “the most consumption-driven economic activity on planet Earth,” Bartlett stressed the need to ensure visitors consume more locally produced goods and services.
“My job is to ensure that they consume indigenous materials,” he said.
Financing and Logistics Support
Bartlett said achieving this goal will require access to capital, stronger buyer networks, and supportive legislation.
He again proposed the establishment of a regional tourism bank or a special financing mechanism to support businesses connected to the tourism sector.
He also highlighted plans for a regional tourism logistics center to facilitate packaging, labeling, procurement, and export operations throughout the Caribbean.
“What we are really trying to do is build an entire tourism economy,” Bartlett said.
Strengthening Tourism Linkages
Gooding-Edghill said Caribbean governments must create deeper linkages between tourism and other sectors such as agriculture, manufacturing, and transportation.
He pointed to Barbados’ Tourism Linkages Council as a successful model for integrating local suppliers into the tourism value chain.
“This committee will focus on strengthening tourism linkages,” he said, adding that the goal is to broaden participation and ensure more sectors benefit from tourism growth.
Caribbean-Owned Digital Platforms
Bartlett also suggested that the region should develop its own tourism marketing and digital booking platforms rather than relying heavily on foreign-owned systems.
“The Caribbean can have its own platforms for marketing,” he said. “That way, more of the tourism dollar stays in the region.”
Toward a More Inclusive Tourism Model
Regional leaders said the initiative represents a strategic shift toward a more inclusive and resilient tourism model, one in which Caribbean countries not only attract millions of visitors but also retain a significantly larger share of the wealth tourism generates.
By strengthening local ownership, improving financing, and expanding supply chains, policymakers hope to transform tourism into a more effective engine for long-term economic development across the Caribbean.
