One of the Caribbean’s foremost tourism strategists, Beverly Nicholson Doty, argues that the region’s greatest innovations are not found in artificial intelligence or smart cities but in its leadership in sustainability, resilience and stewardship.
In a thought-provoking blog for the Caribbean Tourism Organization’s (CTO) Allied Member Insights series, the CEO of Figment Marketing and former CTO chairman contends that the Caribbean is already demonstrating a distinctive model of innovation by protecting ecosystems, adapting to climate change and creating authentic visitor experiences.
“Technology isn’t the only way to answer what travelers want. How you steward your resources, how you build resilience, how you adapt to real challenges — that matters just as much,” writes Nicholson Doty.
Citing examples from Aruba’s renewable energy initiatives, Belize’s reef restoration programs and conservation efforts in the U.S. Virgin Islands, the former tourism leader in both the U.S. Virgin Islands and Saint Lucia concludes that the Caribbean “doesn’t need to become the next Silicon Valley. Perhaps it’s already showing the world another model of innovation, one rooted in resilience, sustainability and stewardship.”
