Antigua and Barbuda is set to make its mark at the State of the Industry Conference (SOTIC) 2025, as Junior Tourism Minister, 16 year old Kiara Kwenga; a 5th form student of the Christ The King High School prepares to represent the nation in the Caribbean Tourism Organization’s (CTO) Regional Youth Congress tomorrow.
The Youth Congress is one of the most exciting events on the SOTIC agenda, bringing together bright young minds from across the Caribbean to share their vision for the future of tourism. Each Junior Minister will step into the spotlight to present fresh ideas on how the region can grow its tourism industry while staying sustainable, innovative, and true to its cultural roots.
Kiara will be showcasing the creativity, intelligence, and resilience of Antigua and Barbuda’s youth on a regional stage as she joins her peers in a lively debate-style format where participants are asked to tackle real-world challenges and opportunities facing Caribbean tourism, from digital innovation and visitor experience to sustainability and community development.
The Regional Youth Congress allows young people to bring their ideas forward and be part of the conversation about where Caribbean tourism is headed. The winner of the competition will be named CTO Youth Ambassador, taking on the exciting role of promoting Caribbean tourism throughout the year and inspiring even more young leaders to step into the industry.
The CTO Regional Youth Congress takes place on Thursday October 2nd as part of SOTIC 2025, hosted in Barbados.