– Pres. Ali tells regional stakeholders

-by Jordan Alkins

President Irfaan Ali is calling for greater regional cooperation on disaster preparedness, technology and food security, as the Caribbean strategizes the future of its tourism industry.

In his address to the State of the Tourism Industry Conference (SOTIC )2026, President Ali said disaster preparedness and business continuity should be built into tourism investments from the start.

He proposed that investment agreements include contingency measures that automatically take effect when disasters strike and called on the Caribbean Tourism Organization to help develop a regional mechanism.

“In those negotiations, there must be a clause to deal with contingencies and situations that we face, natural disasters. So that we are not negotiating that contingency clause when we are faced with a natural disaster, but a clause kicks in once that event occurs,” he said.
He stressed that disaster preparedness cannot be the responsibility of governments alone, saying businesses must also prepare for disruptions.

President Ali also called for stronger regional supply chains, urging Caribbean tourism businesses to source more food and products from within the region. 

He also urged greater investment in farmers, including in Belize, while positioning the Caribbean as a leading producer of premium products.

“How is it we position the region as a custodian of the world’s finest coconut water? How do we invest in coconut water to optimize the value? If we don’t do it, trust me, visitors are going to be travelling around the world to get the finest coconut water and not from our region,” he said.
Ali also called for regional strategies on artificial intelligence and cybersecurity, saying Caribbean countries are too small to tackle these challenges alone.

He is therefore urging closer integration with Latin America, including wider Spanish-language training, to strengthen economic and tourism ties.