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New CTO initiative aims to turn Caribbean tourism research into practical policy, destination strategy and industry innovation
BRIDGETOWN, Barbados — The Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) is adding a new research-focused component to its flagship regional tourism conference, with the inaugural Caribbean Tourism Research Forum set to debut during the 2026 State of the Tourism Industry Conference (SOTIC) in Guyana.
Scheduled for Tuesday, October 6, the three-hour forum is intended to bridge a persistent gap between academic tourism research and the day-to-day decisions facing Caribbean governments, destinations and private-sector tourism businesses.
The initiative comes as Caribbean destinations confront an increasingly complex mix of issues, ranging from climate resilience and changing visitor behavior to workforce development, artificial intelligence, digital transformation and growing competition in the global tourism market.
Rather than operating as a traditional academic conference, the forum is being positioned as an accessible exchange where researchers and tourism practitioners can discuss findings with direct relevance to policy, destination management and business decisions.
“The Caribbean Tourism Research Forum reflects CTO’s commitment to ensuring that the future of Caribbean tourism is informed by credible research, regional collaboration and practical application,” said Aliyyah Shakeer, CTO’s director of research.
“By creating stronger connections between researchers, policymakers and industry leaders, we can better equip our destinations to make informed decisions that support a smarter, more sustainable and more inclusive tourism industry.”
Connecting Caribbean Research With Tourism Decisions
The forum will form part of SOTIC 2026 under the conference theme, “Tourism Futures: Smart, Sustainable, and Inclusive.”
Academics, researchers, tourism practitioners, destination representatives, development partners and students are expected to participate alongside other SOTIC delegates.
Two research showcase sessions will anchor the program.
“Emerging Research from Caribbean Universities” will present recent and ongoing work from universities and research institutions across the region.
A second session, “Research in Practice: Applied and Destination Insights,” will concentrate on studies that address specific tourism policy, planning, market and destination-management challenges.
Potential subjects range from visitor behavior, travel patterns and tourism-demand forecasting to regenerative tourism, climate resilience, community-based tourism and destination competitiveness.
Other areas include workforce development, artificial intelligence, digital transformation, market intelligence, economic impact and tourism product development.
Presentations will be kept to approximately 10 minutes, with researchers expected to communicate their findings in a way that is useful to both technical and non-technical audiences. Moderated discussions will follow the presentations.
The forum will conclude with a joint discussion examining how Caribbean academic research can become more closely aligned with the information needs of tourism ministries, destination organizations and the industry.
From Research to Caribbean Tourism Strategy
The broader objective is not simply to showcase academic work.
CTO wants to increase the visibility of tourism research being conducted within the Caribbean while demonstrating how research can help destinations respond to real-world challenges.
The forum could also create new opportunities for collaboration among universities, governments, tourism organizations, development agencies and private-sector companies.
For a region in which tourism remains a major source of employment, foreign exchange and economic activity, strengthening the evidence behind tourism decisions could become increasingly important as destinations navigate climate risks, technological disruption and shifts in international travel demand.
Participation in the Caribbean Tourism Research Forum is included for registered SOTIC delegates at no additional charge.
To encourage broad representation, CTO is seeking nominations from Caribbean universities, recognized research institutions, the Caribbean Tourism Research Network and CTO member countries.
Recommendations for forum participants and research presentations can be submitted through CTO’s nomination form until Sunday, August 23, 2026.
Research Forum nominations: https://forms.gle/bqDS2hVVD7vVFgsj7
SOTIC 2026 information: https://sotic.onecaribbean.org/
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