Owen Darrell, the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport, will highlight the performance of Bermuda’s tourism sector at a conference organised by the Caribbean Tourism Organisation in the Cayman Islands this week, the Government said.

Mr Darrell will also promote the island as a business and leisure destination at the State of the Tourism Industry Conference which runs until Friday.

He will give an overview of the sector in Bermuda ‒ including the latest visitor statistics.

Mr Darrell said: “I am pleased to be representing Bermuda once again at the CTO's gathering, and equally excited to be joining key industry leaders at this year’s conference.

“Bermuda has had a brisk tourism season so far. During the SOTIC there is a comprehensive briefing for all member countries.”

Mr Darrell said topics such as valuable insights on the future of tourism investment, leveraging innovation, economic development and sustainability in the region would be discussed at meetings during the event.

“This is a great opportunity for all stakeholders to share ideas and network to find common solutions to ensure that we all thrive,” he added

Held under the theme “Caribbean Tourism: Fuelling our Lifeblood,” participants, who include regional and global tourism leaders, will explore the industry’s evolving dynamics and highlight strategies for a sustainable, resilient future.

The event is the Caribbean’s foremost platform for addressing critical issues shaping the region’s tourism sector, the Government said.

The statement added: “It gathers a diverse array of regional and global leaders, thought leaders, decision-makers, and influencers to discuss competitiveness and sustainable growth within the industry.”

Mr Darrell will share statistics on Bermuda’s tourism industry, such as an 11.4 per cent increase in air arrivals and a 6.1 per cent increase in business travel for the first half of the year.

The Government said the island welcomed 234,790 cruise passengers, up 12.3 per cent from the first half of last year.

In addition, information such yacht arrivals, which almost doubled, with 725 yachts visiting Bermuda between January and June, will be shared by Mr Darrell.

Mr Darrell is expected to meet other regional tourism ministers, including the outgoing CTO chairman, Kenneth Bryan, Minister of Tourism and Ports of the Cayman Islands.

Mr Bryan visited the island for the Bermuda Day festivities in May as part of a regional exchange.

A new CTO chairman will be elected during this week's meeting.