BRIDGETOWN, Barbados – The Barbados-based Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) has launched a regional storytelling initiative that it says will anchor Caribbean Tourism Month in November and celebrate the theme “Caribbean Cultural Mosaic: Rejuvenating Heritage and Authenticity”.
Under the subtheme “Our Cultural Gem”, the initiative will showcase short features from CTO’s member destinations that highlight the traditions, creativity and resilience that make the Caribbean a world leader in culture-based tourism.
“The Caribbean’s Orange Economy is a wellspring of talent and tradition — from craft and cuisine to music, festivals and living heritage,” said the CTO’s Secretary General and chief executive officer, Dona Regis-Prosper.
“This Caribbean Tourism Month, we’re inviting every destination to tell a short, authentic story about its cultural gem. Together, these stories will form a vibrant portrait of our shared identity and the communities who power Caribbean tourism.”
The CTO said that this initiative supports its “Reimagine Plan 2025–2027”, advancing the pillar on Sustainable and Regenerative Tourism by accelerating development of the Orange Economy, the cultural, creative and heritage sectors that drive innovation and local value creation; and laying the groundwork for a regional database of cultural and creative tourism resources.
Throughout November, CTO will showcase across social media a curated series of two to three minute videos or photo stories submitted by member countries. The resulting “digital mosaic” will amplify regional visibility for artisans, creatives, cultural practitioners and community initiatives.
It said that destinations will focus on a distinctive element of the Orange Economy or cultural heritage — traditional crafts, performing arts, culinary traditions, festivals, heritage sites, creative industries and artists, or community-led cultural preservation and entrepreneurship.
The CTO said that the expected outcomes of the initiative will include a strengthened regional identity and appreciation of Caribbean cultural diversity, a growing digital archive of cultural and creative assets to inform CTO’s Orange Economy initiatives, enhanced international visibility for member destinations’ creative and cultural sectors as well as a foundation for future collaboration, investment and knowledge-sharing across the region.
“For Caribbean Tourism Month, we’re celebrating the people behind the places. Every ‘cultural gem’ reflects a living story, and when we bring those stories together, we elevate the Caribbean brand while supporting livelihoods and preserving heritage for generations to come,” Regis-Prosper said.
