The Hon. Owen Darrell, JP, MP, Minister of Tourism & Transport, Culture & Sport, is currently in Georgetown, Guyana, representing Bermuda at the Caribbean Tourism Organization’s (CTO) State of the Tourism Industry Conference (SOTIC) 2026, taking place from October 5-9. Hosted in collaboration with the Government of Guyana, the conference is being held under the theme “Tourism Futures: Smart, Sustainable, and Inclusive” and is bringing together tourism ministers, industry leaders, tourism stakeholders, media and young people from across the Caribbean to discuss the opportunities and challenges shaping the region’s tourism future.
A key component of this year's conference is the CTO Annual General Meeting (AGM), where member countries will discuss the organization's strategic priorities and governance. During the AGM, The Hon. Charles "Max" Fernandez, Minister of Tourism, Civil Aviation, Transportation and Investment of Antigua and Barbuda, was announced as the new Chairman of the Caribbean Tourism Organization. Minister Fernandez succeeds The Hon. Ian Gooding-Edghill of Barbados, who completed his two-year tenure as Chairman. The CTO acknowledged Minister Gooding-Edghill's leadership and service to the organization during a period of continued recovery and growth for Caribbean tourism.
“Bermuda’s participation in SOTIC 2026 provides an important opportunity for us to engage with our Caribbean partners and contribute to the regional conversation on the future of tourism,” said Minister Darrell. “The theme of this year’s conference speaks directly to the need for destinations to embrace innovation while ensuring that tourism remains sustainable and inclusive. I am pleased to represent Bermuda at this important regional gathering and particularly proud that we are also bringing the voice of Bermuda’s young people to the discussion through Christopher Madeiros.”
As part of the conference programme, Minister Darrell is participating in the CTO’s business meetings and the CTO Annual General Meeting (AGM), taking place on Tuesday, October 6, before the main SOTIC programme continues on October 7 and 8.
The Youth Tourism Debate is taking place on Thursday, October 8, providing young people from across the region with an opportunity to discuss the future of Caribbean tourism. Christopher Madeiros, winner of the 2026 Bermuda Youth Tourism Speech Competition, is representing Bermuda at the Youth Congress and participating in the youth tourism debate.
The week concludes on Friday, October 9, with Media Day and Destination Media Briefings, providing participating destinations with an opportunity to present their tourism offerings to regional and international media. As part of Bermuda’s participation, Jan Hutton, Chief Executive Officer of the Bermuda Tourism Authority (BTA), will deliver a media briefing showcasing Bermuda to the world, highlighting the island as a tourism destination and sharing Bermuda’s story with an international audience.
Bermuda’s participation in SOTIC 2026 highlights the island’s continued engagement with regional tourism partners and its commitment to strengthening collaboration, innovation and opportunities across the Caribbean tourism industry.
