Gov. Albert Bryan Jr. delivered opening remarks Monday during the Caribbean Tourism Organization’s Caribbean Week in New York, calling on regional leaders to strengthen cooperation across the Caribbean and position tourism not only as a driver of visitor arrivals, but also as a catalyst for long-term investment, economic development and shared regional prosperity.
Speaking before tourism officials, industry leaders and government representatives from across the Caribbean, Gov. Bryan urged destinations to see one another as partners in a larger regional strategy rather than competitors for the same visitors.
“There are more than enough visitors in the United States and around the world for all of us,” Bryan said. “The Caribbean’s success is not dependent on one island winning at the expense of another. Our collective strength lies in working together to market our region, improve connectivity and elevate the Caribbean brand globally.”
Bryan said that while the Caribbean’s natural beauty remains one of its greatest assets, the region must continue evolving beyond traditional tourism promotion and use its global appeal to attract broader investment and opportunity.
“We will always use our smiles, our sand, our surf, our culture and our hospitality to attract visitors,” Bryan said. “But our responsibility does not end when tourists arrive. We must leverage our talent, our innovation and our resources to transform visitors into investors, partners and advocates for the future of the Caribbean.”
The governor emphasized the importance of converting tourism relationships into opportunities for entrepreneurship, real estate development, technology investment, trade partnerships and workforce development throughout the region.
He also pointed to renewed interest by the United States in the Caribbean as a significant opportunity that regional governments should seize together.
“The Caribbean stands at a pivotal moment,” Bryan said. “The United States has renewed its focus on the region because it recognizes our strategic importance. We must work collectively to ensure that this renewed engagement translates into meaningful investments in resilience, energy security, climate adaptation, infrastructure modernization and expanded trade opportunities.”
Bryan said Caribbean nations and territories have a unique opportunity to collaborate on energy efficiency, disaster preparedness, supply chain development, maritime commerce and emerging industries that can help diversify regional economies beyond tourism alone.
He noted that improving air access remains central to the region’s ability to compete, grow and convert interest in the Caribbean into lasting economic activity. In the U.S. Virgin Islands, that strategy has recently produced significant new airlift, including Southwest Airlines’ new nonstop service to St. Thomas from Orlando and Baltimore/Washington, and United Airlines’ announced nonstop service between Newark/New York and St. Croix, which is scheduled to begin Oct. 31.
Bryan said those additions reflect the kind of connectivity Caribbean destinations must continue pursuing together to make travel easier, expand visitor access, strengthen local economies and create new investment opportunities.
Drawing from the experience of the U.S. Virgin Islands, Bryan highlighted ongoing investments in renewable energy, infrastructure reconstruction, broadband expansion and economic diversification initiatives designed to create sustainable growth and strengthen resilience against future challenges.
“As Caribbean leaders, we must think beyond the next tourism season and focus on building economies that create opportunity for future generations,” Bryan said. “Together, we can build a stronger, more resilient Caribbean that attracts visitors, welcomes investment, expands trade and creates prosperity for our people.”
Caribbean Week is the Caribbean Tourism Organization’s premier annual tourism event, bringing together government officials, tourism stakeholders, media representatives and private-sector leaders to discuss the future of Caribbean tourism and economic development.
