Anguilla has been confirmed as the host for the Caribbean Tourism Organization’s (CTO) first-ever Sports Tourism Summit, scheduled to take place August 12 to 14, 2027. The announcement was made during the CTO’s State of the Tourism Industry Conference (SOTIC) in Georgetown, Guyana.
CTO Summit Focuses on Sports Tourism to Boost Caribbean Economic Growth
The summit will bring together tourism and sports officials, event organizers, athletes, sports associations, destination marketers, private-sector partners, and other stakeholders. It aims to provide a regional platform to explore how the intersection of sports and tourism can stimulate economic activity, strengthen destination branding, and create opportunities for local communities.
Aligned with the 2026 SOTIC theme “Tourism
Futures: Smart, Sustainable and Inclusive,” the event will focus on leveraging sports tourism as a strategic sector for the Caribbean’s future tourism development.
CTO Leadership Highlights Sports as a Vital Tourism Driver
Caribbean Tourism Organization Secretary-General and CEO Dona Regis-Prosper described sports as “one of the most powerful connectors we have in the Caribbean,” noting its untapped potential to drive tourism growth. She emphasized that the summit will create a space for destinations to share ideas, build partnerships, and develop strategic approaches to using sports tourism.
Regis-Prosper stated, “Anguilla is an excellent destination in which to begin that conversation,” underscoring the island’s role in advancing regional sports tourism.
Anguilla Minister Cardigan Connor Underscores Sports Tourism Potential
Cardigan
Connor, Anguilla’s Minister of Health, Tourism and Sports and a former first-class cricketer, stressed the island’s ambition to expand its participation in Caribbean sports tourism. He highlighted sports’ ability to open doors and create pathways for training, international exposure, scholarships, and career development for young people in Anguilla and across the Caribbean.
Connor pointed to Anguilla’s established tennis culture and growing golf offerings as strong foundations for sports tourism development. He said, “With our tennis facilities, championship golf offerings and deep sporting traditions, we have an opportunity to position Anguilla more deliberately in this market.” He also mentioned the potential
for sports initiatives to support health-related causes regionally.
Anguilla’s Tourism Strategy Integrates Sports Tourism
Jameel Rochester, Director of Tourism for the Anguilla Tourist Board, explained that sports tourism in Anguilla extends beyond hosting events. It is a way to generate additional reasons for visitors to travel to the island and connect them with accommodations, dining, beaches, culture, and local experiences.
Rochester said, “The summit allows us to demonstrate that a small destination can develop distinctive experiences, build smart partnerships and deliver the high level of hospitality for which Anguilla is known.” The island’s tourism development strategy includes sports tourism alongside its strengths in luxury leisure travel,
culinary, wellness, and niche markets.
Details on Venue and Program to be Announced
Further information about the venue, program, speakers, and registration for the CTO Sports Tourism Summit will be disclosed in the coming months. The event will span three days and aims to create new pathways for visitors to experience Anguilla through sports-related tourism.
