The Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) last week launched the Regional Nex-Gen Tourism Showcase 2025, a dynamic competition designed to engage and empower the next generation of Caribbean tourism leaders.

The initiative, open to tertiary-level students from universities and colleges across CTO member countries, challenges student teams to develop forward-thinking, sustainable business proposals that drive economic growth and enhance the region’s global tourism appeal.

Through research, collaboration and presentation, students will explore key facets of the tourism industry, designing initiatives that contribute to the long-term success of Caribbean destinations. The competition seeks to foster creativity and innovation by bridging academic learning with real-world applications, and provides a platform for students to engage directly with industry leaders.

Emphasising the importance of the initiative CTO Secretary-General & CEO Dona Regis-Prosper, stated, “The future of Caribbean tourism lies in the hands of our young, talented minds. The Nex-Gen Tourism Showcase is more than a competition – it is an opportunity to cultivate innovation, empower students, and ensure a vibrant, sustainable future for our region’s tourism industry. We invite students across CTO member countries to take on this challenge and become part of the movement shaping the Caribbean’s tourism landscape.”

CTO, as part of its broader commitment to fostering youth engagement, previously supported educational programmes such as the Caribbean Primary School Creative Writing Competition, Regional Tourism Youth Congress, and Caribbean Students Colloquium. The Nex-Gen Tourism Showcase builds on this practice of giving students the opportunity to gain industry exposure, refine their skills, and develop tourism solutions with lasting impact.

The regional tourism organisation encourages students from across its member countries to register and participate in the Nex-Gen Tourism Showcase 2025. The competition will recognise and award business proposals that demonstrate the greatest potential for positive social, economic and environmental impact while showing strong promise for attracting investment and long-term viability.

The top teams will advance to the finals, where they will present their innovative initiatives to an audience of tourism industry leaders at Caribbean Week in New York this June.