New CTO initiative aims to turn Caribbean tourism research into practical policy, destination strategy and industry innovationBRIDGETOWN, Barbados — The Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) is adding a new research-focused component to its flagship regional tourism conference, with the inaugural Caribbean Tourism Research Forum set to debut during the 2026 State of the Tourism Industry Conference (SOTIC) in Guyana. “The Caribbean Tourism Research Forum reflects CTO’s commitment to ensuring that the future of Caribbean tourism is informed by credible research, regional collaboration and practical application,” said Aliyyah Shakeer, CTO’s director of research. Connecting Caribbean Research With Tourism DecisionsThe forum will form part of SOTIC 2026 under the conference theme, “Tourism Futures: Smart, Sustainable, and Inclusive.” Participation in the Caribbean Tourism Research Forum is included for registered SOTIC delegates at no additional charge. To encourage broad representation, CTO is seeking nominations from Caribbean universities, recognized research institutions, the Caribbean Tourism Research Network and CTO member countries.