CLICK HERE TO JOIN OUR WHAT’S APP GROUP
Antigua’s Youth Tourism Minister Calls for Sustainability, Technology, and Inclusion
Antigua and Barbuda’s Junior Minister of Tourism, Kiara Kwenga, urged her regional peers to embrace sustainability, smart technology, and social inclusion as the new cornerstones of Caribbean tourism during the 21st Regional Tourism Youth Congress on Thursday.
Kwenga told delegates that the Caribbean could no longer rely on the traditional trio of “sun, sea, and sand” to remain competitive.
She highlighted Antigua and Barbuda’s environmental leadership, citing its ban on single-use plastics and initiatives such as coral reef restoration and the Barbuda Blue Halo marine reserve.
On technology, Kwenga pointed to virtual reality previews for travel agents, paperless digital immigration, and augmented reality storytelling at Nelson’s Dockyard.
She added that plans are underway for AI-powered multilingual apps to serve as “digital ambassadors” for visitors.
Kwenga also emphasized community-based tourism and economic inclusion, referencing Culinary Month in May, which showcases local cuisine while extending the tourism season and supporting farmers, chefs, and restaurants.
Microfinancing and training programs, she said, ensure that tourism revenues circulate within local communities.
“What we are crafting in Antigua and Barbuda is not merely a tourism product.
It is a vision — where innovation meets tradition, where paradise is protected, and where every citizen shares in the promise of progress,” Kwenga said.
Sixteen-year-old Jolé St. John of Tobago is the Caribbean Tourism Organization’s (CTO) 2025 Regional Junior Tourism Minister/Commissioner of Tourism.
Ms. St. John’s participation in the Regional Tourism Youth Congress saw her making a presentation on the topic ‘Leveraging Heritage Tourism For Development’, and answering mystery question number four, which asked participants to respond to the question, ‘Give Your Recipe For An Unforgettable Experience In Your Island’.
Taking second and third place were the Junior Ministers from Jamaica, Caleader Lewison, and the Cayman Islands, Aylani Morris-Seymour, respectively.
There was also a special recognition prize awarded to the Junior Minister from St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Isaiah Toney.
Other islands participating in the Congress were Anguilla, Antigua & Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, British Virgin Islands, Dominica, Grenada, Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Eustatius, and St. Kitts.
The Youth Congress is one of CTO’s signature developmental initiatives, bringing together students aged 14 to 17 from across the region, each serving as a “Junior Minister/Commissioner of Tourism” in their respective island.
The Congress is designed to foster critical thinking, communication skills, and a deeper understanding of the sector, while providing delegates of the State of the Tourism Industry Conference with a glimpse into the vision of the next generation of tourism human resource capital.
CLICK HERE TO JOIN OUR WHAT’S APP GROUP
CLICK HERE TO JOIN OUR WHAT’S APP GROUP
CLICK HERE TO JOIN OUR WHAT’S APP GROUP
CLICK HERE TO JOIN OUR WHAT’S APP GROUP
CLICK HERE TO JOIN OUR WHAT’S APP GROUP
CLICK HERE TO JOIN OUR WHAT’S APP GROUP
CLICK HERE TO JOIN OUR WHAT’S APP GROUP
CLICK HERE TO JOIN OUR WHAT’S APP GROUP
CLICK HERE TO JOIN OUR WHAT’S APP GROUP
CLICK HERE TO JOIN OUR WHAT’S APP GROUP
CLICK HERE TO JOIN OUR WHAT’S APP GROUP
CLICK HERE TO JOIN OUR WHAT’S APP GROUP
CLICK HERE TO JOIN OUR WHAT’S APP GROUP
CLICK HERE TO JOIN OUR WHAT’S APP GROUP
CLICK HERE TO JOIN OUR WHAT’S APP GROUP
CLICK HERE TO JOIN OUR WHAT’S APP GROUP
CLICK HERE TO JOIN OUR WHAT’S APP GROUP
Advertise with the mоѕt vіѕіtеd nеwѕ ѕіtе іn Antigua!
We offer fully customizable and flexible digital marketing packages.
Contact us at [email protected]
