Governor Bryan calls for greater Caribbean cooperation on tourism and investment

Governor Albert Bryan Jr. (D) of the United States Virgin Islands delivered opening remarks during the Caribbean Tourism Organization’s Caribbean Week in New York, calling on regional leaders to strengthen cooperation across the Caribbean and position tourism as a catalyst for long-term investment and shared regional prosperity.

Speaking before tourism officials, industry leaders, and government representatives from across the Caribbean, Bryan urged destinations to see one another as partners in a regional strategy rather than competitors for the same visitors.

“There are more than enough visitors in the United States and around the world for all of us,” Bryan said. “The Caribbean’s success is not dependent on one island winning at the expense of another. Our collective strength lies in working together to market our region, improve connectivity, and elevate the Caribbean brand globally.”

Bryan said that while the region’s natural beauty remains one of its greatest assets, Caribbean destinations must evolve beyond traditional tourism promotion to attract broader investment and opportunity.

“We will always use our smiles, our sand, our surf, our culture, and our hospitality to attract visitors,” Bryan said. “But our responsibility does not end when tourists arrive. We must leverage our talent, our innovation, and our resources to transform visitors into investors, partners, and advocates for the future of the Caribbean.”

Bryan emphasized converting tourism relationships into opportunities for entrepreneurship, real estate development, technology investment, trade partnerships, and workforce development throughout the region. He also pointed to renewed interest from the United States in the Caribbean as an opportunity that regional governments should seize together.

“The Caribbean stands at a pivotal moment,” Bryan said. “The United States has renewed its focus on the region because it recognizes our strategic importance. We must work collectively to ensure that this renewed engagement translates into meaningful investments in resilience, energy security, climate adaptation, infrastructure modernization, and expanded trade opportunities.”

Bryan said Caribbean nations and territories have an opportunity to collaborate on energy efficiency, disaster preparedness, supply chain development, maritime commerce, and emerging industries that could help diversify regional economies beyond tourism.

He pointed to improving air access as central to the region’s ability to compete and convert visitor interest into lasting economic activity. In the US Virgin Islands, that strategy has recently produced new airlift, including Southwest Airlines’ new nonstop service to St. Thomas from Orlando and Baltimore/Washington, and United Airlines’ announced nonstop service between Newark and St. Croix, scheduled to begin October 31, 2026.

Drawing from the experience of the US Virgin Islands, Bryan highlighted ongoing investments in renewable energy, infrastructure reconstruction, broadband expansion, and economic diversification initiatives designed to strengthen resilience against future challenges.

“As Caribbean leaders, we must think beyond the next tourism season and focus on building economies that create opportunity for future generations,” Bryan said. “Together, we can build a stronger, more resilient Caribbean that attracts visitors, welcomes investment, expands trade, and creates prosperity for our people.”

Caribbean Week is the Caribbean Tourism Organization‘s premier annual tourism event, bringing together government officials, tourism stakeholders, media representatives, and private-sector leaders to discuss the future of Caribbean tourism and economic development.