CTO Secretary General Hugh Riley is a media-friendly personality worth sitting down with for the extensive insight he always gives on the region’s tourism industry, its trends and perspectives. CND has had the privilege of interviewing him on several occasions, the latest within the framework of STC-12 held in Bermuda. This time around, Mr. Riley broaches a wide array of topics, ranging from the significance of sustainable development for the Caribbean to the new strategies his organization has in the works.

This event, more than a fam trip for 700 travel agents, is really an educational experience in which our visitors, our travel agents have learned everything that Puerto Rico has to offer, in the different Puerto Rican regions, on this island of the Caribbean which is far more than just sun and sand. We have our rain forest; we have a 500-year-old history and Old San Juan.

The Caribbean historically has been known for its political stability and as a peaceful region. We have been able to maintain that and it’s a great advantage for us. We’ve always been seen as a fun-loving, enjoyable and hospitable region.

Though being one of the smallest Caribbean islands, with barely 14,000 inhabitants, Anguilla develops a travel industry that takes full advantage of its breathtaking beaches and natural beauties, always with a view in mind toward high-end tourism. Mr. Hughes talked exclusively with Caribbean News Digital on the steps his island nation is now taking on the road to sustainable development, increasing ties with the Latin American markets and other interesting topics.

In his position at CTO, Mr. Abreu is in charge of strategic alliances with other tourism organizations and companies, the ties with travel agents or groups and associations of travel agencies, the support and relationship with CTO’s chapters in different states of USA and Latin America, the Caribbean attendance in main tourism shows in Canada and USA, and the promotion of events organized by CTO, including the Caribbean Week, to be held with a new edition coming in June in New York. This was one of the matters he dealt with during an exclusive interview for Caribbean News Digital, as well as the country’s relationship with Spanish-speaking countries.

After four decades practically unpopulated, Cancun-Riviera Maya tourism corridor presently counts on over 70.000 hotel rooms and welcomes some ten million tourists a year, while Cozumel’s cruiser port is ranked second worldwide. The Mesoamerican Reef stretches for over 700 Km in front of the coasts of Quintana Roo and all the way down to Honduras, it’s the second largest in the world and is a huge ecological reservoir. MARTI project tries to lead the hotel growth through environment-friendly ways, so the region maintains its main asset: natural wealthy.