Caribbean tourism investment and development

The Caribbean tourism sector is experiencing significant investment and a focus on industry development. In the Bahamas, a massive pipeline of approximately $3.5 billion in active and announced projects is underway, including $1.5 billion for cruise infrastructure in Grand Bahama and over $1.3 billion for luxury resorts in regions such as Eleuthera, the Exumas, and Abaco. While visitor arrivals reached a record 12.5 million in 2025, the market shows a heavy reliance on cruise passengers, who accounted for roughly 85% of arrivals, leading to discussions about the need for higher-value stopover tourism.

In response to these industry dynamics, stakeholders are prioritizing workforce and environmental sustainability. In the Bahamas, tourism executives have met with government leadership to discuss workforce development, youth training, infrastructure, and the expansion of airlift and stopover growth in the Family Islands. Meanwhile, in Belize, efforts have shifted toward conservation through marine biodiversity workshops for tour guides, aimed at addressing climate change impacts on coral reef ecosystems and promoting the ‘Blue Economy’.