During a prominent panel discussion at ITB Berlin, one of the world’s top travel trade events, Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) Secretary-General Dona Regis-Prosper urgently called for swift and effective climate action, funding, and collaboration to safeguard tourism-dependent destinations. The event, which wrapped up last week, featured global tourism leaders, including representatives from the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC), the World Sustainable Hospitality Alliance, the European Commission, and NECSTouR.
Speaking on the Orange Stage during the session titled “From Promise to Progress: Steering Tourism in Challenging Times,” Regis-Prosper emphasized the Caribbean’s vulnerability to the escalating effects of climate change. She stressed the pressing need for actionable tools and financial support to assist tourism-reliant regions in confronting the growing climate challenges they face.
“Sustainability is our currency,” Regis-Prosper explained, emphasizing the Caribbean’s unique economic dependency. “At least eight out of the 10 most [tourism]-dependent nations in the entire world are based in the Caribbean. And for some of our destinations, up to 80% of GDP is tourism-based.”
Regis-Prosper mentioned that although Caribbean destinations have made notable progress in promoting sustainability through community-focused tourism, circular economy efforts, and stringent plastic regulations, securing financing continues to be a major hurdle.
“There’s a saying that faith without works is dead. We certainly have the faith in the Caribbean. We are willing to work – we are hardworking people – but the gap is that access to financing, and that’s how you get to work,” Regis-Prosper told attendees, referencing the Caribbean’s active participation at COP29 in Baku last year.
The panel, moderated by Professor Willy Legrand of IU International University of Applied Sciences and Heleri Rande of Think Hospitality, also featured Virginia Messina, Senior Vice President of Advocacy and Communications at WTTC, who highlighted that more than half of the world’s top travel and tourism companies have now committed to clear climate targets. “We are seeing some progress, but we know we need to do a lot more,” Messina said on the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.
Glen Mandziuk, CEO of the World Sustainable Hospitality Alliance, advocated for global adoption of standardized metrics to measure sustainability. “We want [transparent], verifiable real-time data,” Mandziuk noted, adding that industry leadership is essential.
Misa Labarille, Policy Officer for Tourism with the EU, announced her organization’s plans to launch its first dedicated tourism sustainability strategy next year, saying the commission is prioritizing tourism amid mounting global pressures and challenges. “Going forward, what we want to do is to launch a new strategy, a new strategy for sustainable tourism,” Labarille said, noting extensive consultations planned throughout the year.
John Fitzgibbon, Managing Director of NECSTouR, underscored the essential role destination management organizations play in delivering these EU-wide strategies. “It’s really important that the voice of the regions, who are at the sharp end, in [the] frontline of delivering these EU strategies and national policies as well … have something to say about all of this,” he stated.
To wrap up the discussion, each panelist selected a key word that they believe will define the tourism industry in the upcoming year. Regis-Prosper chose “reimagine,” highlighting the need for a renewed perspective on tourism that balances economic development with environmental responsibility. Other panelists picked “together” (Messina), “innovation” (Mandziuk), “smart” (Labarille), and “opportunity” (Fitzgibbon).
ITB Berlin 2025, which saw over 100,000 attendees, 87% of whom were international visitors, reaffirmed the essential role of tourism in shaping sustainable futures.
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