View as Webpage

The MPE Caribbean Report Newsletter offers travel, tourism, Caribbean and global news weekly. To share stories, information or intelligence, contact us at info@marketplaceexcellence.com.

July 13, 2026

Guyana’s tourism rise sets the stage for SOTIC 2026

Guyana’s Minister of Tourism Susan Rodrigues in New York

Guyana is preparing to host the Caribbean Tourism Organization’s (CTO) State of the Tourism Industry Conference (SOTIC), Oct. 5-9, 2026, amid sustained tourism growth.

Speaking during Caribbean Week in New York last month, Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce Susan Rodrigues reported that Guyana welcomed a record 453,489 visitors in 2025, a 22% increase over 2024.

The upward trajectory continues in 2026. According to CTO’s recently released Tourism Industry Review, Guyana welcomed 107,286 visitors during the first quarter, a 12% increase over the same period in 2025.

Arrivals from the Caribbean grew 17.8%, followed by Canada at 17.5%, the United States at 5.4% and Europe at 4.4%.

Guyana’s growth has been supported by increased airlift, nearly 2,500 additional hotel rooms over the past four years and more than 70 new tourism experiences since 2020. As the country prepares to welcome regional and international tourism leaders for SOTIC 2026, watch Minister Rodrigues on CTO TV discuss Guyana’s tourism rise and expanding tourism product.

Nicolas Scott appointed CTO Program Coordinator

Nicolas Scott

Nicolas Scott has been appointed as the Caribbean Tourism Organization’s (CTO) new program coordinator in the department of resource mobilization and development. Scott previously served as technical assistant in the department and now assumes this expanded role in support of the organization’s strategic priorities.

The position, introduced as part of the CTO Reimagine Plan, reflects the organization’s commitment to strengthening program delivery, project coordination and resource mobilization.

In his new role, Scott will provide technical and administrative support to Sharon Banfield-Bovell, director of resource mobilization and development, while coordinating the planning, implementation, monitoring and reporting of the department’s programs and projects. He will also support youth development and internship initiatives, donor engagement activities and resource mobilization efforts, helping to advance sustainable and regenerative tourism and professional services.

Fluent in English and German, with working knowledge of Spanish, Scott has professional experience in cruise coordination, tour guiding and travel logistics.

He currently leads the coordination of CTO’s flagship youth engagement initiatives including the Regional Nex-Gen Tourism Showcase and the Regional Tourism Youth Congress.

“In 2026, I cannot believe we are being asked to respond to the suggestion that the descendants of the enslaved should pay for the machinery that oppressed them. The Caribbean does not owe Britain for slavery, for colonial extraction or for laws that treated African people as chattel. We are not asking for charity. We are asking for justice and history itself has already told the truth. Those who wish to speak on this matter should first take the time to read enough history to understand it. The Caribbean will not be used as a prop for anyone’s politics. We know who we are, we know what was done, and we will continue to speak for repair with clarity and dignity.” — Mia Mottley, Prime Minister, Barbados

Quotable Caribbean

“The diaspora is real, interconnected and global. Across the Global South and its diasporas, we all carry personal stories connected by the struggle for freedom, dignity and belonging. Many of those stories have never been told while geography and the way colonial history has been written have too often separated us from one another. That is why I created the Windrush Caribbean Film Festival, and it is why we are now expanding that vision into an international festival.” — Frances-Anne Solomon, Founding Director of Windrush Caribbean Film Festival (WCFF) | CEO, CaribbeanTales Media Group

In case you missed it ...

For Caribbean Tourism Authority highlights this week, click below:

Anguilla Tourist Board Appoints Marketplace Excellence as U.S. Public Relations Agency of Record

From Turks and Caicos to Cayman: Family Finds Relief After Life-Saving Heart Procedure

The Central Bank of Barbados in Plain English — A Column by Basil Springer

CMEx Contribution Delivers Tangible Benefits for Students in Barbados

Beyond the “White Lotus” Effect: Cruise Destinations Must Adapt to an Era of Hyper-Personalized Service

Spice Island Beach Resort Receives Expedia Group’s 2026 Top Guest Experience Award

JHTA Names Christopher Issa Hotelier of the Year

Tink Bout It

“The best thing that you can do for the world is to be a joyful and blissful human being.” — Sadhguru, Founder, Isha Foundation

Medical Moment

World Sjögren’s Day is observed annually on July 23 to mark the birthday of Swedish ophthalmologist Dr. Henrik Sjögren who first described Sjögren’s syndrome in 1933. His pioneering work advanced the medical understanding of the disease and laid the foundation for decades of research into its diagnosis and treatment. 

Sjögren’s syndrome is a chronic autoimmune disease in which the body's immune system attacks healthy tissues instead of protecting them from infection. 

It primarily affects the glands that produce tears and saliva, resulting in dry eyes and dry mouth. The disease can also affect other organs including the thyroid, lungs, kidneys and liver.

A 2023 study found that people of African descent, particularly those with sub-Saharan African ancestry, experienced higher Sjögren’s disease activity than their white counterparts.

The condition affects millions of people worldwide and occurs most often in women. It can develop on its own or alongside other autoimmune diseases including lupus and rheumatoid arthritis.

Although there is no cure for Sjögren’s syndrome, early diagnosis, appropriate treatment and ongoing management can help relieve symptoms, reduce complications and improve quality of life.



Marketplace Excellence Corporation is a global public relations, marketing and media company.