The Caribbean Tourism Organization has named a global indigenous tourism leader as the keynote speaker at its next major sustainability gathering in Belize.
Dame Pania Tyson-Nathan, CEO of Tourism Maori New Zealand, will deliver a keynote address at the 17th Caribbean Conference on Sustainable Tourism Development, known as STC 2026. The conference is scheduled to be held April 27-30, 2026, in the coastal town of San Pedro, Ambergris Caye, Belize.
This meeting will follow the CTO’s recent high-level aviation summit held in Bermuda.
The event will be held under the theme “Full Color Tourism: Economic Integration in Blue, Green, Orange and Beyond”, and the CTO said the framework is designed to link environmental protection, cultural industries and inclusive economic growth into a more cohesive regional strategy.
Global Indigenous Tourism Leader
Dame Pania is widely recognized for her work in advancing indigenous-led tourism development in Aotearoa, New Zealand. Since 2009, she has led a values-based investment model that places cultural identity, stewardship, and community well-being at the center of tourism economic performance.
Under her leadership, Māori values, including stewardship and intergenerational sustainability, were reflected in New Zealand’s wider tourism system. Her work focuses on reconciling commercial growth with cultural preservation and long-term environmental responsibility.
Her appearance at STC 2026 represents what organizers describe as a strengthening link between Caribbean and Māori approaches to tourism development, particularly around the concept of a “purple economy” where cultural values, social cohesion and inclusive growth intersect.
“We are honored to welcome Dame Pania to the Caribbean stage at this pivotal time for our industry,” said Dona Regis-Prosper, Secretary-General and CEO of the Caribbean Tourism Board. “Her groundbreaking work on ‘culturalizing commerce’ aligns perfectly with our vision of ‘full-colour tourism’. Dame Pania’s insights will challenge us to move beyond piecemeal planning and embrace integrated models that respect our heritage while protecting our environmental and economic future.”
Tourism in full color framework
The 2026 edition of STC is hosted in partnership with the Belize Tourism Board. Organizers said the conference was formed to examine the intersections between several key economic pillars that are increasingly shaping tourism policy across the region.
The Blue and Green Economy will focus on marine conservation, climate resilience and low-carbon development strategies – central issues for small islands and coastal destinations facing rising sea levels and extreme weather events.
The Orange Economy will highlight the region’s creative and cultural industries, including heritage, music, arts and community-based businesses that contribute to tourism’s wider value chain.
The conference will also address what the CTO calls “beyond the economy,” including the purple economy, which emphasizes indigenous knowledge systems, social cohesion and regenerative prosperity as key components of tourism development.
By organizing a dialogue across multiple economic perspectives, the CTO aims to encourage local government and private sector stakeholders to integrate environmental, cultural and social priorities rather than treating them as separate policy tracks.
Belize as a host destination
Belize will host the four-day conference, with sessions taking place in San Pedro, Ambergris Caye, one of the country’s most popular tourist centers.
Belize’s Minister of Tourism, Youth, Sports and Diaspora Relations, Anthony Mahler, said the country’s indigenous heritage and natural assets were a suitable environment for the 2026 conference.
“As a country where our indigenous heritage and rich natural landscapes together shape who we are, Belize is deeply honored to host STC 2026,” said Mahler. “From the enduring legacy of the ancient Maya to the UNESCO-recognized traditions of the Garifuna people, and from forests to the Barrier Reef, our stories are woven by the resilience of these communities and the lands they have cared for for so long. By welcoming global leaders like Dame Pania to our shores, we emphasize that indigenous wisdom is not just a part of our past, but an essential blueprint for a sustainable and regenerative future for the Caribbean and tourism.”
Belize’s tourism product is closely linked to natural and cultural assets, including Belize’s coral reefs, Mayan archaeological sites, and Garifuna cultural heritage, positioning Belize as a case study for discussions on conservation, community engagement, and heritage-focused tourism.
Over 30 years of experience
Dame Pania brings more than 30 years of experience in tourism and business leadership to the conference stage.
Her honors include being named one of the Top 50 Global Tourism Innovators of 2021. In 2022, he was inducted into the New Zealand Business Hall of Fame. In 2024, she was appointed Dame Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to Māori and causes.
Her keynote address is expected to cover investment approaches that balance commercial returns with cultural and environmental priorities, as well as integrating indigenous values into national tourism strategies.
4 days of talks and field participation
In addition to keynote speeches, STC 2026 will feature ministerial roundtables, master classes, and field-based learning experiences. Organizers said the agenda was designed to give delegates direct exposure to sustainable tourism in Belize and complement policy discussions with examples from the field.
The Caribbean Conference on Sustainable Tourism Development is the CTO’s premier sustainability event and has historically attracted tourism ministers, policy makers, private sector leaders, academics and development partners from across the region and beyond.
As pressures for sustainability intensify across the Caribbean, the 2026 conference is positioned as a platform to reorient regional tourism models around integrated economic, cultural and environmental priorities, with indigenous leadership taking on a more central role in the conversation.
