CTO chief to keynote Antigua’s 2026 Caribbean Food Forum

By AI, Created 4:23 PM UTC, May 18, 2026, /AGP/ – Dona Regis-Prosper, the Caribbean Tourism Organization’s secretary-general and CEO, will headline the 2026 Caribbean Food Forum on May 21 in Antigua. The event aims to link food systems, tourism and economic growth, and organizers expect a white paper with recommendations for regional collaboration.

Why it matters: - The Caribbean Food Forum is trying to connect tourism, agriculture and culinary development to economic resilience across the region. - Organizers say the event is designed to produce practical recommendations, not just discussion. - The forum also puts Caribbean food systems at the center of destination branding and visitor experience.

What happened: - Dona Regis-Prosper, secretary-general and CEO of the Caribbean Tourism Organization, will deliver the keynote address at the 2026 Caribbean Food Forum on Thursday, May 21, in Antigua. - The Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority is hosting the forum. - Grace Foods is presenting the event. - The forum will be held virtually and in person at the John E. St. Luce Finance and Conference Center. - The event is part of Antigua and Barbuda’s Annual Culinary Month.

The details: - The forum theme is “The Future Is Local: Caribbean Food at the Crossroads of Global Impact.” - Leaders from tourism, agriculture, culinary arts, hospitality and investment are expected to participate. - Regis-Prosper will focus on regenerative tourism, sustainable food systems and the Caribbean’s role in the global food economy. - Narendra Ramgulam, CTO deputy director of sustainable tourism, will speak on agritourism and destination branding as drivers of Caribbean economic growth. - ABTA CEO Colin C. James called the forum a strategic step for sustainable tourism development and said stronger food systems can create more immersive visitor experiences and better opportunities for local and regional producers and entrepreneurs. - Registration closes Tuesday, May 19. - Participants can register here or by calling ABTA at 1-268-562-7600. - The agenda includes panel discussions on climate resilience, agritourism, diaspora engagement and food entrepreneurship. - A lunch and marketplace experience will showcase local producers, culinary artisans and Caribbean brands. - Additional sessions will look at technology, sustainability and access to global markets. - Donyelle Bird-Browne, USA senior business development manager for strategic partnerships and organizer of the forum, said the event is meant to move beyond conversation and open tangible opportunities for the region. - Organizers expect a white paper with recommendations and roadmaps for regional collaboration. - More information on Antigua and Barbuda Culinary Month is available here.

Between the lines: - The lineup suggests the forum is being used as a policy-and-business platform, not a food festival. - By centering tourism officials, producers and investors in the same room, organizers are betting that Caribbean food can become an economic lever, not just a cultural asset. - The white paper goal signals an attempt to turn the event into a regional planning tool.

What’s next: - Registration remains open through May 19. - The forum takes place May 21 in Antigua. - Organizers plan to publish recommendations after the event.

The bottom line: - The CTO’s participation gives the forum regional weight and reinforces a broader push to tie Caribbean tourism growth to local food systems.