Anguilla will host the Caribbean Tourism Organization’s (CTO) inaugural Sports Tourism Summit from August 12 to 14, 2027, the CTO announced during its State of the Tourism Industry Conference (SOTIC) held in Georgetown, Guyana on October 16, 2026.
The announcement took place during SOTIC 2026, which carried the theme “Tourism Futures: Smart, Sustainable and Inclusive.” The conference gathers Caribbean tourism leaders to discuss industry developments, including the launch of this dedicated event on sports tourism.
The Sports Tourism Summit aims to create a regional platform where tourism officials, sports organisations, athletes, event organisers, destination marketers, private-sector partners, and other stakeholders
can examine the growing intersection of sports, tourism, and economic development within the Caribbean.
Caribbean Tourism Organization Highlights Sports Tourism Potential
Dona Regis-Prosper, Secretary-General and CEO of the CTO, stated that sports are among the Caribbean’s most powerful connectors. She emphasized that the sector’s potential to drive tourism requires greater regional attention.
Regis-Prosper said the summit will provide destinations with a dedicated venue to share ideas, build strategic partnerships, and explore how sporting events and experiences can contribute to tourism growth while generating benefits for Caribbean people. She noted that Anguilla is an ideal location to commence this regional dialogue.
Anguilla’s Sports Tourism Strategy and Ambitions
Anguilla’s Minister of Health, Tourism and Sports,
Cardigan Connor, a former first-class cricketer, linked the summit to the island’s intention to expand its impact in Caribbean sports tourism. Connor highlighted that sports tourism presents opportunities not only for visitor attraction and economic stimulus but also for youth training, international exposure, scholarships, and career development for Anguillans and wider Caribbean nationals.
Connor referenced Anguilla’s established tennis culture and its growing recognition as a golf destination as foundational assets for this growing segment. He also pointed out that sports bring people together and generate travel motivation.
Anguilla’s Sports Ecosystem Complements Broader Tourism Offerings
Anguilla incorporates sports tourism as a key component of its destination development, complementing
luxury leisure travel, culinary experiences, wellness, and niche market segments.
Cardigan Connor mentioned the island’s tennis facilities and championship-level golf offerings as strengths that underpin its positioning within the sports tourism market. He also discussed the potential for sports initiatives to promote health causes, such as fundraising efforts for cancer patients in the Caribbean cricketing community.
Connecting Sports Tourism to the Full Anguilla Experience
Jameel Rochester, Director of Tourism for the Anguilla Tourist Board, described sports tourism as a means to provide visitors with another reason to travel to Anguilla and an entry point to engage with its accommodations, restaurants, beaches, culture, and people.
Rochester stated the summit
offers Anguilla a platform to demonstrate how a smaller destination can craft distinctive sports tourism experiences, establish strategic partnerships, and offer the high level of hospitality for which the island is known.
Additional information regarding the summit’s venue, program, speakers, and registration will be disclosed by the CTO and Anguilla authorities in the coming months.
