ST JOHN’S, Antigua and Barbuda — Jamaica’s Minister of Tourism  Edmund Bartlett has issued a call to action to the Caribbean Community (Caricom), urging member states to formally recognise tourism as the region’s single largest economic activity and to act collectively to protect, develop and future-proof the industry.

Speaking ahead of the start of the Caribbean Travel Marketplace 2026 trade show in Antigua and Barbuda, Bartlett noted that while tourism contributes more than 40 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP) across several Caribbean economies and supports the livelihoods of millions of citizens, it is still not a core priority of Caricom’s strategic agenda.

“Tourism is not a secondary consideration — it is the economic backbone of the Caribbean. The time has come for Caricom to treat it as such, with the urgency, resources and political will the sector demands,” said the minister.