President Dr Irfaan Ali calls on Caribbean governments, tourism businesses and investors to increase and improve tourism investment, warning the region risks falling behind faster-moving competitors. Speaking at the opening of the Caribbean Tourism Organization’s State of the Tourism Industry Conference (SOTIC) 2026 in Georgetown, he urges destinations to plan for future demand and to move beyond relying mainly on beaches and natural appeal.
Ali says the next phase of Caribbean tourism should be supported by larger, smarter investments, including upgrades to transportation and visitor experiences, and greater use of technology and regional integration. He also warns that tourism assets are vulnerable to shocks and disasters, and argues that governments and businesses should include disaster preparedness and business continuity provisions in tourism investment agreements from the start.
Across outlets, the emphasis is on competitiveness and readiness: one angle focuses on “scaling up” against rivals investing heavily in infrastructure, while another highlights the need to embed resilience measures into investment planning.
