Jamaica’s Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett is set to deliver the keynote address at a major Canadian Caribbean tourism conference in Toronto, where policymakers, academics and industry leaders will examine strategies to strengthen the sector against future challenges.

The Canadian Caribbean Tourism Resilience Symposium, themed Co Designing the Next Decade, ends July 30 at Limberlost Place, George Brown Polytechnic. The event is hosted by the Global Tourism Resilience and Crisis Management Centre in partnership with the Caribbean Tourism Organization.

Bartlett, founder of the Global Tourism Resilience and Crisis Management Centre, is expected to highlight the importance of resilience, innovation and international collaboration in securing the long term sustainability and competitiveness of tourism.

“Tourism is one of the most powerful economic forces in the world, but its future depends on our ability to innovate and build resilience,” Bartlett said. “Jamaica has long championed the importance of embedding resilience into how destinations plan, invest and grow. Through collaboration between Canada and the Caribbean, we have an opportunity to share knowledge, strengthen partnerships and develop solutions that will help communities and destinations thrive for generations to come.”

The symposium will bring together representatives from tourism ministries, destination management organizations, researchers, private sector leaders and development partners from Canada and across the Caribbean. Discussions will focus on climate adaptation, workforce resilience, sustainable growth, logistics, food security and economic transformation.

Bartlett said the conference reflects the growing international recognition of tourism resilience as a cornerstone of destination development.

“Tourism resilience is no longer optional. It is fundamental to protecting livelihoods, strengthening economies and preparing destinations to withstand and recover from future disruptions. Forums such as this create invaluable opportunities to exchange ideas, foster innovation and build partnerships that will shape the future of tourism for generations to come,” he said.

George Brown Polytechnic is home to the only North American location of the Global Tourism Resilience and Crisis Management Centre, reinforcing its role in applied research, innovation and international collaboration to address emerging tourism challenges.

Organizers said the symposium forms part of the centre’s continuing efforts to strengthen global partnerships and promote practical solutions that will help tourism destinations become more adaptive, competitive and sustainable.

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