CTO names finalists for 2026 Nex-Gen Tourism Showcase in New York

By AI, Created 5:22 AM UTC, May 29, 2026, /AGP/ – Students from the British Virgin Islands, Saint Lucia and Turks and Caicos Islands will compete in the Caribbean Tourism Organization’s 2026 Regional Nex-Gen Tourism Showcase during Caribbean Week in New York. The June 4 finals will feature investment-ready tourism proposals aimed at sustainable growth, community income and youth-led innovation across the Caribbean.

Why it matters: - The showcase is aimed at turning student ideas into tourism projects that can support jobs, income and sustainable development across Caribbean communities. - The finals put young Caribbean talent in front of regional tourism leaders, investors and partners during Caribbean Week in New York. - The competition is designed to connect classroom research with real-world tourism challenges and opportunities.

What happened: - Students from the British Virgin Islands, Saint Lucia and Turks and Caicos Islands advanced to the finals of the Caribbean Tourism Organization’s 2026 Regional Nex-Gen Tourism Showcase. - The Live Finals will take place at InterContinental New York Times Square on Thursday, June 4, 2026. - Finalist teams will present practical tourism business proposals built for investment and sustainable development. - Caribbean Week in New York is the setting for the finals.

The details: - The competition is open to tertiary-level student teams from universities and colleges across CTO member countries. - Final proposals are judged on innovation, feasibility, sustainability outcomes and overall contribution to Caribbean tourism development. - The 2026 theme is “Innovative Tourism: Bridging Sectors for Sustainable Growth.” - Student teams were asked to show how tourism can connect with and strengthen other economic sectors. - The four challenge areas were Caribbean Creative Tourism Hub, Caribbean Digital Tourism Hub, Caribbean Green & Blue Economy Tourism Hub and Caribbean Sustainable Tourism Cities Hub. - The Creative Tourism Hub focuses on an orange-economy model with immersive culture-led experiences and creative entrepreneurship. - The Digital Tourism Hub centers on AR, VR and AI tools for visitor experiences, destination marketing and sector resilience. - The Green & Blue Economy Tourism Hub focuses on nature- and ocean-based tourism tied to conservation, climate resilience and community livelihoods. - The Sustainable Tourism Cities Hub focuses on inclusive urban tourism, decent work, MSMEs and long-term livelihoods. - British Virgin Islands finalists are Adrianne Thomas, Auri-Ana El Shabazz and Naomi Onwufuju from H. Lavity Stoutt Community College. - Their project is Caribbean Blue & Green Economy Hub. - Saint Lucia finalists are Jeanic Polius, Nadira Ragunanan and Nathan Marius from Sir Arthur Lewis Community College and Monroe University. - Their project is Caribbean Creative Tourism Hub. - Turks and Caicos Islands finalists are Aaron Robinson, Treneice Reid and Jemima Mesidor from Turks and Caicos Community College. - Their project is Caribbean Blue & Green Economy Hub. - The Inter-American Development Bank is the Title Partner for the showcase. - The Royal Caribbean Group Foundation is the Presenting Partner. - The CTO said the showcase is intended to inspire creativity, strengthen academic engagement and support Caribbean tourism development. - Caribbean Week information is available at Caribbean Week in New York. - The Caribbean Tourism Organization is headquartered in Barbados and serves as the region’s tourism development agency.

Between the lines: - The focus on investment-ready proposals suggests the CTO wants student work to move beyond competition and toward practical implementation. - The mix of creative, digital, green and urban tourism themes reflects a broader push to diversify Caribbean tourism beyond traditional beach-and-resort models. - Pairing youth teams with major partners like the IDB and Royal Caribbean Group Foundation gives the program more visibility and a clearer path to mentorship and market access.

What’s next: - Finalist teams will pitch their proposals on June 4 in New York. - Winners, if announced, would likely gain added exposure for their ideas and their institutions. - The showcase is expected to continue CTO’s youth engagement efforts and build the next generation of tourism leaders in the Caribbean.

The bottom line: - CTO is using Caribbean Week in New York to spotlight student-led tourism ideas that aim to deliver sustainable, investable solutions for the region.