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From Blue and Green to Purple and Orange: Belize to Host 2026 Sustainable Tourism Conference Belize continues leaving its mark on the tourism industry. The Jewel is set to take centre stage in April 2026 as the Caribbean’s next destination for the annual Sustainable Tourism Conference. This annual event brings together regional leaders to rethink what it truly means to travel responsibly. The event will push conversations beyond the familiar ‘green and blue economies,’ and explore culture, diversity, and regeneration as key pillars of sustainability. The Caribbean Tourism Organization’s Deputy Director of Sustainable Tourism, Narendra Ramgulam, said the 2026 conference will deliver “deeper discussions, new toolkits, and new best practices” to help further advance how the region approaches sustainability. The 2026 theme will focus on integrating the colours of development into sustainability. These include the blue economy (marine spaces), green economy (land-based and eco-focused activities), orange economy (culture and heritage), and purple economy (human inclusion and diversity), and others. “There are many other colours that we want to start integrating into sustainable planning and sustainable development,” Ramgulam said. A key focus for 2026 will also be regenerative tourism, a growing movement that goes beyond conservation to actively improve destinations. Ramgulam explained that while traditional sustainability seeks to reduce harm and preserve natural resources, regenerative tourism aims to restore, renew, and enhance the places that travellers visit. “Regenerative tourism engages in the type of carbon-positive, niche product development that ensures that you leave the environment better than you found it,” he said.
