TORONTO, Canada – July 29, 2026 – The Consulate General of Antigua and Barbuda is participating in the Canadian-Caribbean Tourism Resilience Symposium, hosted by George Brown Polytechnic in collaboration with the Caribbean Tourism Organization. The two-day symposium brings together government officials, tourism leaders, researchers, and industry experts from across Canada and the Caribbean to examine practical strategies for strengthening the resilience and long-term sustainability of the tourism sector.

Representing Antigua and Barbuda, Consul General Gail Christian participated alongside regional and international partners in discussions on financing tourism resilience, climate adaptation, workforce development, supply chains, and innovation in the tourism industry.

Tourism remains the cornerstone of Antigua and Barbuda’s economy, and the Government continues to implement forward-looking initiatives that protect the country’s natural assets while creating new opportunities for sustainable growth.

Among the key initiatives highlighted were:

• Protecting the natural environment through coral reef conservation, the restoration of Redonda, support for responsible fishing practices, and measures to manage the impacts of over-tourism.
• Expanding the tourism product beyond the country’s renowned beaches by investing in cultural, culinary, wellness, sailing, sports, and community-based tourism experiences that encourage year-round visitation.
• Strengthening tourism infrastructure, including continued improvements at V.C. Bird International Airport, the development of Barbuda’s new international airport, and the new cruise terminal to enhance accessibility and the overall visitor experience.
• Diversifying visitor markets by maintaining strong relationships with traditional markets such as Canada while expanding connections with Latin America, Africa, and the wider Caribbean.
• Creating greater economic opportunities for local communities by supporting culinary tourism, locally owned accommodations, events, artisans, farmers, entrepreneurs, and community-led tourism experiences.
• Increasing local ownership within the tourism sector through initiatives such as the Shell Beach development, which provides Antiguans and Barbudans with access to land and tax and duty concessions to develop short-term rental accommodations, ensuring more tourism revenue remains within local communities.

The Canadian-Caribbean Tourism Resilience Symposium focuses on building stronger, more adaptable tourism sectors by addressing challenges such as climate resilience, digital transformation, workforce development, sustainable financing, and crisis preparedness. The event serves as an important platform for collaboration between Canada and the Caribbean in shaping a more resilient future for tourism.