Anguilla will host the Caribbean Tourism Organization’s (CTO) inaugural Sports Tourism Summit from August 12 to 14, 2027, marking the first event of its kind dedicated to advancing the relationship between sports and tourism across the Caribbean region. The announcement was made during the CTO’s 2026 State of the Tourism Industry Conference (SOTIC) held in Georgetown, Guyana.
The three-day summit will include tourism and sports officials, event organizers, athletes, sports organizations, destination marketing professionals, private-sector partners, and other stakeholders. The summit will focus on leveraging sports to attract visitors, promote economic growth, strengthen destination brands, and provide opportunities for local
communities.
Role of Sports in Caribbean Tourism
Dona Regis-Prosper, CTO Secretary-General and CEO, described sports as a significant connector in the Caribbean with untapped potential to drive regional tourism. She stated, “This summit will create a dedicated space for destinations to share ideas, build partnerships and look more strategically at how sporting events and experiences can contribute to tourism growth while generating meaningful benefits for our people. Anguilla is an excellent destination in which to begin that conversation.”
Anguilla’s Vision and Leadership
Anguilla’s Minister of Health, Tourism and Sports, Cardigan Connor, a former first-class cricketer, emphasized the island’s ambition to expand its role in Caribbean sports tourism. Connor said, “Having
spent much of my life in sports, I have seen firsthand the doors it can open.” He highlighted the dual purpose of sports tourism on the island: to increase visitor arrivals and stimulate economic activity while providing training, international exposure, scholarships, and career opportunities for youth across Anguilla and the wider Caribbean.
Anguilla’s Sports Tourism Assets
Anguilla has an expanding sports ecosystem that includes a well-established tennis culture and a growing reputation in golf. Connor referenced these assets as part of the destination’s strategy to position itself more assertively in the sports tourism market. He added, “Sports bring people together and generate reasons to
travel. With our tennis facilities, championship golf offerings and deep sporting traditions, we have an opportunity to position Anguilla more deliberately in this market.”
Connecting Sports Tourism to the Visitor Experience
Jameel Rochester, Director of Tourism for the Anguilla Tourist Board, stressed that sports tourism complements Anguilla’s wider offerings. “For Anguilla, sports tourism is about much more than staging an event. It is about creating another compelling reason to visit the destination and then connecting those visitors with our accommodations, restaurants, beaches, culture, experiences and, most important, our people,” Rochester said. He added that the summit offers an opportunity for Anguilla to demonstrate that a small destination
can deliver distinctive experiences and build smart partnerships while maintaining its renowned hospitality.
The CTO’s 2026 SOTIC conference, where the summit was announced, operates under the theme “Tourism Futures: Smart, Sustainable and Inclusive.” The sports tourism summit will serve as a new regional platform aimed at promoting the intersection of sports, tourism, and economic development. Additional details including the exact venue, program, speakers, and registration information will be released in the coming months.
