BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (CMC) – The Barbados-based Caribbean Tourism Organisation (CTO) says it will spotlight its leadership in sustainable tourism at the  Caribbean Festival of  Arts (CARIFESTA XV), which gets underway here on Friday.

The CTO said that it has been working alongside the local organising committee and the Caribbean Community (Caricom) to stage an exhibit in the Sustainability Pavilion at the Grand Market during the 10-day festival.

It said the interactive booth will highlight the organisation’s mission of advancing sustainable tourism development across the region, with displays on environmental initiatives, training programmes, and green tourism practices.

“The Sustainability Pavilion allows us to tell the Caribbean’s story of resilience, innovation and leadership in sustainable tourism. Our presence at CARIFESTA demonstrates our commitment to advancing tourism that not only drives economic growth but also safeguards our cultural and environmental heritage,”  said CTO’s Secretary-General, Dona Regis-Prosper.

She described the initiative as an opportunity for the region to present a unified message, adding that by participating in CARIFESTA XV, CTO reinforces its role as a regional leader committed to promoting sustainable and regenerative tourism through innovation, collaboration and education.

The Caribbean’s tourism development agency said a Sustainability Corner will showcase its regional commitment to resilience and environmental stewardship, while visitors will also learn about upcoming CTO events, including the State of the Tourism Industry Conference (SOTIC) in Barbados in September and the Tourism Human Resources Conference in the British Virgin Islands in October.

In addition, a general information area will provide resources on research, tourism development, and other priority programs.

As part of its contribution to the festival’s dialogue, CTO said it will also participate in a panel discussion on sustainability and cultural integration and will be represented by its Deputy Director for Sustainable Tourism, Narendra Ramgulam, who will emphasise the importance of linking culture, tourism and sustainable development.

“Through this pavilion and our participation in dialogue, CTO is underscoring the importance of embedding resilience and environmental stewardship into our tourism sector,” he said.