Jamaica Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett will participate in the Caribbean Travel Marketplace 2026 in Antigua and Barbuda, advocating stronger regional tourism cooperation, multi-destination travel and resilience strategies. The event will bring together Caribbean tourism leaders to discuss sustainability, connectivity, digital innovation and recovery planning ahead of hurricane season.
KINGSTON, Jamaica — Jamaica’s Minister of Tourism, Edmund Bartlett, has departed the island to participate in the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association’s (CHTA) Caribbean Travel Marketplace 2026 trade show in Antigua and Barbuda from May 12–15, where regional leaders, hoteliers, tour operators, airlines, travel advisors and other tourism stakeholders will engage in high-level discussions and business meetings aimed at strengthening Caribbean tourism competitiveness, connectivity and collaboration.
The annual marketplace, organized by the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association, is regarded as the Caribbean’s premier tourism business event and will feature several days of strategic engagements, including business appointments between buyers and suppliers, the Caribbean Travel Forum, Responsible Tourism Day activities and the Direct Booking Summit focused on digital marketing, artificial intelligence and technology trends shaping the future of tourism.
The program officially opens on Tuesday, May 12, with an Opening Ceremony at Cedar Valley Golf Course in Antigua and Barbuda. On Wednesday, May 13 and Thursday, May 14, delegates will participate in full-day business appointments designed to facilitate partnerships, destination promotion and regional tourism growth opportunities.
A key highlight of the program will be the Caribbean Travel Forum, to be hosted at Sandals Grande Antigua Resort & Spa, where regional leaders will examine critical issues affecting the tourism industry, including sustainability, air connectivity, investment and resilience. The travel marketplace will also include Responsible Tourism Day initiatives across Antigua and Barbuda, giving delegates an opportunity to engage directly with community tourism and sustainability projects.
Additionally, the second staging of the Direct Booking Summit on Friday, May 15, will explore emerging digital strategies and AI-driven solutions aimed at improving the Caribbean’s online competitiveness and increasing direct bookings for regional tourism businesses.
Minister Bartlett is set to use the platform to advance Jamaica’s advocacy for deeper regional integration, multi-destination travel arrangements and enhanced resilience strategies as the Caribbean prepares for another Atlantic hurricane season.
“The Caribbean remains the most tourism-dependent region on Earth, and that reality demands greater cooperation, innovation and resilience from all of us,” said Minister Bartlett prior to departure. “As we approach another hurricane season just months after Hurricane Melissa, the importance of regional knowledge-sharing, crisis preparedness and coordinated recovery frameworks cannot be overstated. Jamaica has emerged as a thought leader in resilience-building, and we intend to continue contributing meaningfully to the regional conversation and strategy,” Bartlett stressed.
The tourism minister added that the region’s tourism product remains one of the strongest and most diverse globally, offering immense opportunities for collaborative growth.
“Multi-destination tourism is no longer optional; it is a strategic imperative for the Caribbean. By improving connectivity and creating seamless regional experiences, we strengthen our collective value proposition and expand opportunities for all our people,” he noted.
Following the trade show, Minister Bartlett will travel to the Turks and Caicos Islands on May 15 at the invitation of Adam Stewart to attend the Grand Celebration of the new Treasure Beach Village at Beaches Turks & Caicos on Saturday, May 16.
“Sandals continues to demonstrate the strength, resilience and global competitiveness of Jamaican enterprise. The continued expansion of their resorts and brand across the region sends a strong message of trust and confidence to international markets and investors alike,” Minister Bartlett said.
He further noted that Jamaican multinational companies expanding regionally help reinforce the Caribbean’s position as a world-class tourist destination while deepening economic linkages across the region.
Minister Bartlett is scheduled to return to Jamaica on Sunday, May 17, 2026.