Caribbean tourism leaders urge practical climate action at ITB Berlin

Published on March 16, 2026

Caribbean tourism leaders used one of the world’s largest travel trade events to press the global community for faster, finance-ready adaptation to climate change, warning that theoretical plans and fragmented funding are leaving heavily tourism-dependent destinations exposed.

Speaking at ITB Berlin 2026 last week during a session titled “The Climate Adaptation Gap in Tourism: From Risk to Resilience,” Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) Secretary-General and CEO Dona Regis Prosper described the region’s experience with extreme weather as immediate and unrelenting. 

“There is no teacher as great as a practical experience,” she stated, reflecting on her personal experience with devastating hurricanes in the region.

Building on that lived experience, the Secretary-General urged a shift from theory to practical adaptation and resilience in action, underscoring the importance of public-private collaboration and media engagement in addressing the ravages of climate change.

CTO Deputy Director of Sustainable Tourism Narendra Ramgulam talking about climate impacts in Germany last week.

CTO Deputy Director of Sustainable Tourism Narendra Ramgulam also emphasized the Caribbean’s frontline exposure to climate impacts during an earlier session, “These Ideas Will Transform Tourism,” where he evaluated new tools aimed at assessing climate and nature risks.

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