New platform will connect research with tourism policy and industry innovation
BRIDGETOWN – The Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) will introduce the inaugural Caribbean Tourism Research Forum as part of the 2026 State of the Tourism Industry Conference (SOTIC), creating a dedicated platform to advance research, innovation and evidence-based decision-making across the region’s tourism sector.
The three-hour forum will take place Tuesday, Oct. 6, during SOTIC 2026 in Guyana under the conference theme “Tourism Futures: Smart, Sustainable, and Inclusive.” Designed as an accessible and engaging research exchange rather than a conventional academic conference, it will bring together academics, researchers, tourism practitioners, destination representatives, development partners, students and other interested delegates to share recent findings and explore practical solutions to the Caribbean’s most pressing tourism challenges.
“The Caribbean Tourism Research Forum reflects CTO’s commitment to ensuring that the future of Caribbean tourism is informed by credible research, regional collaboration and practical application,” said Aliyyah Shakeer, CTO’s director of research. “By creating stronger connections between researchers, policymakers and industry leaders, we can better equip our destinations to make informed decisions that support a smarter, more sustainable and more inclusive tourism industry.”
The program will feature two research showcase sessions. The first, “Emerging Research from Caribbean Universities,” will highlight recent or ongoing work from universities and research institutions.
The second, “Research in Practice: Applied and Destination Insights,” will focus on studies addressing specific policy, planning, market or destination-management challenges.
Presentations may examine topics including visitor behavior and changing travel patterns, tourism demand and forecasting, sustainable and regenerative tourism, climate resilience, community-based tourism, workforce development, artificial intelligence and digital transformation, destination competitiveness, market intelligence, economic impact and product development.
Each session will include concise presentations followed by moderated discussion with the forum concluding in a joint conversation on strengthening links between academic research and industry needs. Presentations will be limited to approximately 10 minutes and designed to be accessible to both technical and non-technical audiences.
The forum aims to raise the visibility of tourism research conducted across the Caribbean, demonstrate how applied research addresses real destination and industry challenges, and identify opportunities for collaboration among universities, tourism organizations, governments, development partners and the private sector. It reinforces the importance of evidence-based tourism planning and decision-making.
Participation is open to all registered SOTIC delegates at no additional cost.
To ensure broad regional representation, CTO is inviting nominations from Caribbean universities, recognized research institutions, the Caribbean Tourism Research Network and CTO member countries.