CHTA and CAST Celebrate World Tourism Day with Urgent Call for Sustainable Transformation Across the Region

(Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Association)- On the occasion of World Tourism Day 2025, the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA) and its environmental arm, the Caribbean Alliance for Sustainable Tourism (CAST), call on regional leaders, industry partners, and communities to embrace bold steps toward sustainable transformation in Caribbean tourism. The official 2025 theme, “Tourism and Sustainable Transformation,” is more than a slogan; it is a challenge and a commitment aimed at advancing the Caribbean as a beacon of responsible travel, economic prosperity, and environmental resilience.

“The Caribbean is the world’s most tourism-dependent region and one of the most climate-vulnerable,” said Sanovnik Destang, President of CHTA. “Our economies rely on healthy ecosystems, resilient communities, and stable energy infrastructure. To secure tourism’s future as a force for good, we must transform how we power our destinations, plan for growth, and safeguard the unique resources that define our region.”

CHTA and CAST reaffirm the advocacy initiated earlier this year on Earth Day, calling for industry-wide acceleration toward clean energy, greater operational efficiencies, and climate-smart infrastructure. While Caribbean hotels have made notable strides in energy efficiency, much more remains to be done, as only 2.3 percent of today’s Caribbean tourism energy is provided by renewables, as per the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC). CHTA and CAST are urging governments, regulators, and hospitality leaders to update outdated energy policies, stimulate market competitiveness, and fast-track investment in renewable energy solutions.

Supporting Regional Leadership and Best Practices

CHTA commends recent efforts by Saint Lucia and the Saint Lucia Hospitality & Tourism Association – SLHTA for their recent advocacy work on stronger renewable energy provisions in the proposed Electricity Act, calling for a legal and regulatory framework that increases private-sector investment in solar, wind, and other renewable technologies. These advancements will benefit hotels, restaurants, taxi drivers, and every household in communities that depend on tourism. CAST and CHTA applaud such collaborations between the public and private sectors that have driven energy cost reduction and supported greater adoption of renewables and stand shoulder-to-shoulder with SLHTA.

Proof of successful transformation is additionally evident in Dominica’s geothermal project; the Caribbean Development Bank recently celebrated its financial close, paving the way for sustainable baseload power and reduced reliance on fossil fuels. Hotels across the region are also investing in solar microgrids, battery storage, and water efficiency, with Aruba, Barbados, and the Cayman Islands leading the way in renewables adoption.

Supporting Proven Efficiency Models for Caribbean Tourism

In addition to its successful research and advocacy support advancing renewable energy use, CHTA and CAST remain committed to amplifying successful energy initiatives, providing ongoing training and awareness-raising initiatives, recognizing best industry practices, and building upon the successes of programs like CHENACT (Caribbean Hotel Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Action Program), a recent collaborative initiative between CHTA and the Caribbean Tourism Organization with support from the Inter-American Development Bank.

Tourism can play a pivotal role in creating a clean energy future and driving sustainable change; every hotelier who invests in renewables, every government that incentivizes efficiency upgrades, and every utility that enables access to cleaner power contributes to a more resilient Caribbean. Sustainable transformation also means investing in people, preserving cultural heritage, and fostering community-based tourism to ensure benefits reach every household.

A Call to Action

On World Tourism Day, CHTA and CAST urge all stakeholders – public sector, private sector, and community leaders – to work together to create frameworks that enable every hotel, tour operator, and Caribbean household to join the clean energy transition. With strategic partnerships and visionary policies, the Caribbean can remain a global beacon, not only for spectacular travel, but for sustainable transformation that inspires the world.