OECS Tourism Ministers new agenda: diversification, and greater economic value

Published on March 2, 2026

Saint Kitts and Nevis welcomed the Ninth Meeting of the OECS Council of Ministers: Tourism on February 11, 2026 at the Marriott Resort, marking the gathering as a pivotal moment for tourism in the OECS.

The region is currently facing a convergence of mounting pressures as geopolitical uncertainty, climate volatility, and tightening global financing call for a dynamic shift in the operations of the tourism industry.

Across the OECS, tourism directly and indirectly accounts for approximately 39% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) across the six OECS Member States.

This impact has significantly contributed to shaping employment, foreign exchange earnings, infrastructure development, and community livelihoods.

OECS Director General Dr. Didacus Jules Director General of the OECS, Dr. Didacus Jules, called on leaders to confront a reality we can no longer avoid: we cannot expect to follow the same trajectory, in the same markets, in the same way, under radically different global conditions and expect meaningful results.

“Tourism cannot remain a stand-alone sector. It must become a demand engine for agriculture, the creative industries, and youth entrepreneurship particularly in alignment with the OECS Food and Agriculture Systems Transformation (FAST) Strategy. When tourism sources food regionally, it strengthens food security. When it integrates creative industries, it differentiates our product and deepens cultural value. When it creates credible pathways for youth, it turns tourism from a job of last resort into a sector of innovation and aspiration.”