Caribbean Tourism Week 2025, taking place from June 1 to June 6 in New York City, is more than a date on the calendar—it’s a celebration, a strategy session, and a lifeline. Organized by the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO), the week brings a burst of island spirit to one of the world’s busiest metropolises, and in doing so, makes a powerful statement: the Caribbean is open, vibrant, resilient, and absolutely essential to the global tourism map.
Tourism is not a side hustle in the Caribbean—it’s the economic engine that keeps the region running. For many of the islands, tourism contributes between 30% to 80% of GDP. That’s not hyperbole—it’s survival. In places like Antigua and Barbuda, it accounts for more than 60% of national income. In Jamaica, it fuels approximately 35% of GDP and employs over 300,000 people. These are not just jobs in resorts and restaurants; these are farmers supplying local food, artisans creating cultural products, taxi drivers, tour guides, musicians, chefs, and so many more. Tourism is the connective tissue of the Caribbean economy—it touches everything.
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And yet, tourism is about more than just numbers. It’s about identity, history, and culture. This year’s Caribbean Tourism Week in New York features the inaugural Caribbean Cultural Showcase, designed to highlight the region’s soul: its music, dance, cuisine, art, and fashion. Events like these don’t just sell a destination—they sell a feeling. When you hear the steelpan, taste jerk chicken, or dance to soca, you’re not just a visitor—you’re part of something larger. That cultural immersion is what brings people back again and again. And in an era of AI and virtual everything, real experiences matter more than ever.
Equally important is the Caribbean diaspora. For millions of Caribbean nationals living abroad—particularly in the United States, Canada, and the UK—Tourism Week is personal. It’s not just a marketing event; it’s a reconnection. It’s a moment of pride. New York’s Caribbean population is deeply invested in the region’s future. They’re not just sending remittances—they’re traveling home, investing in property, and encouraging others to experience the Caribbean they know and love. They are our most loyal visitors and our most passionate advocates.
This is where Carib News comes in. For decades, Carib News has served as a powerful bridge between the region and its diaspora. Through its newspaper, digital platforms, social media channels, and events, Carib News has kept Caribbean nationals abroad informed, engaged, and connected. Its work goes far beyond journalism—it is advocacy, cultural preservation, and economic development wrapped into one.
The Caribbean Multi-National Business Conference (CMBC), a flagship initiative of Carib News, has also played a pivotal role in this ecosystem. Bringing together government leaders, business executives, investors, academics, and community leaders, CMBC has helped to spark real conversations and real action. Whether it’s connecting tourism ministers with diaspora investors, showcasing small businesses with global potential, or simply creating a space for regional collaboration, CMBC has been steady, reliable, and effective. In many ways, it has done what regional integration talks often fail to do: bring people together around shared interests and get things done.
Tourism ministers from across the English-speaking Caribbean have been vocal about the importance of these efforts. Jamaica’s Minister of Tourism, Edmund Bartlett, recently noted that “tourism represents a path to empowerment, job creation, poverty alleviation, and the preservation of cultural heritage.” He emphasized the urgency of sustainability, warning that the region must “build resilience against climate shocks while expanding our tourism footprint in a responsible way.”
In the Turks and Caicos Islands, Minister Josephine Connolly reported record-breaking tourism performance, calling it a testament to “vision, planning, and collaboration.” She noted the crucial role of diaspora travelers and the importance of strategic partnerships like Virgin Atlantic’s direct flights from London to Providenciales, which helped propel the islands to be named the world’s best-performing destination in 2023 by the UN World Tourism Organization.
Antigua and Barbuda’s Minister Charles Fernandez spoke with similar optimism, pointing out that his country had not only recovered from the pandemic downturn but had exceeded pre-COVID tourism numbers. “It is the strength of our people and our product,” he said, “that keeps the world coming back.”
Of course, resilience is a word often used when discussing the Caribbean—and for good reason. This is a region that has weathered storms, literal and figurative. From hurricanes to health crises, the islands have shown time and again that they can bounce back. But resilience shouldn’t be the only narrative. The Caribbean is also about innovation, creativity, and leadership. It’s about building forward, not just back.
Caribbean Tourism Week reminds us that the region is not a monolith—it is a mosaic. Each country has its own charm, its own challenges, and its own story to tell. But collectively, the Caribbean remains one of the most desirable destinations on the planet. The goal now is to protect that status while growing in a way that benefits everyone, from the hotel owners to the fisherfolk to the returning diaspora.
As we celebrate Caribbean Tourism Week 2025, let us recognize the urgency behind the festivity. This is not just a party—it is a platform. It is a time for celebration, yes, but also for reflection and recommitment. The people of the Caribbean deserve a future that honors their past and builds on their present.
Carib News is committed to driving tourism in the Caribbean through the publication and initiatives like the Caribbean Multi-National Business Conference (CMBC). The ongoing dedication of tourism leaders across the region, that future is not just a dream—it’s within reach. And if the Caribbean has taught the world anything, it’s that when passion meets purpose, there’s no limit to what can be achieved.
