The Caribbean Tourism Organization’s (CTO) Regional Tourism Youth Congress is set to return as one of the marquee events of this year’s State of the Tourism Industry Conference (SOTIC), scheduled for October in Barbados.
The event, staged in partnership with the Barbados Ministry of Tourism and International Transport and Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc., brings together students aged 14 to 17 from across the region, each serving as a “Junior Minister/Commissioner of Tourism.”
This year, participants from 16 CTO member countries and territories will share their research and ideas on the future of Caribbean tourism during the Youth Congress on October 2. The exchanges are designed to sharpen critical thinking and communication skills while giving industry delegates insight into the vision of the next generation.
Sharon Banfield-Bovell, CTO’s Director of Resource Mobilization and Development, emphasized the importance of the initiative. “This initiative transcends a simple competition,” she said. “It represents a fundamental pathway to developing future tourism advocates and innovators who will help define the trajectory of the Caribbean tourism sector.”
In addition to the competition, students will take part in SOTIC’s wider program. Activities include a Tourism Youth Congress Master Class led by Ed Limon, Cofounder and CEO of Winged Whale Media, an award-winning XR/AI studio recognized for its immersive media and virtual tourism innovation. They will also attend Level Up: A Teen Career Launchpad Workshop for Work, Life & Leadership, facilitated by Davina Layne of Your Corporate Image.
The 2024 edition, hosted in the Cayman Islands, saw Keyana Warner of Nevis capture first place at the 20th CTO Tropical Shipping Regional Tourism Youth Congress. Organizers say this year’s event will be just as dynamic, with students showcasing their creativity and passion for advancing the region’s leading industry.
Countries and territories represented at the 2025 Youth Congress are: Anguilla, Antigua & Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Dominica, Grenada, Jamaica, Nevis, Saint Lucia, St. Eustatius, St. Kitts, St. Vincent & the Grenadines, Tobago, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
 Regional Tourism Youth Congress is set to return to SOTIC, scheduled for October in Barbados.){kind=link}