Jolé St. John of Tobago (center) with Jamaica’s Caleader Lewison (left) and Aylani Morris Seymour from the Cayman Islands following the Caribbean Tourism Organisation’s (CTO) 21st Regional Tourism Youth Congress on Thursday, October 2, 2025, at Hilton Barbados Resort. Photo: CTO

The Virgin Islands’ 2025 Junior Ambassador of Tourism, Ms Auri-Ana A. Elshabbaz, represented the Territory at the Caribbean Tourism Youth Congress in Barbados on October 2, 2025. Photo: BVITBFC

Regional Tourism Youth Congress participants with (l-r) Charles Fernandez, Minister of Tourism of Antigua and Barbuda; Dona Regis-Prosper, CTO Secretary-General; Councillor Tashia Burris, Secretary of Tourism, Tobago; Ian Gooding-Edghill, CTO Chairman and Barbados Minister of Tourism and International Transport; and Marie McKenzie, Senior Vice President of Government and Destination Affairs at Carnival Corporation & plc. Photo: CTO

The Virgin Islands (VI) was represented at the regional debate competition by 2025 Junior Ambassador of Tourism, Ms Auri-Ana A. Elshabbaz.

Second place went to Caleader Lewison, Junior Minister of Tourism for Jamaica, who will serve as CTO’s Junior Secretary-General of Tourism. Third place was awarded to Aylani Morris Seymour, Junior Minister of Tourism for the Cayman Islands. In addition, Isaiah Toney, Junior Minister of Tourism for St Vincent and the Grenadines, received an honourary mention for outstanding qualities beyond the standard scoring.

'Innovative ideas' shared

Part of the State of the Tourism Industry Conference (SOTIC), the Congress saw St John impress judges and delegates with innovative ideas on sustainable tourism, digital transformation and heritage experiences. Her performance earned her the title of Regional Junior Minister of Tourism until the 2026 Congress.

The event brought together 15 students, aged 14-17, from across the Caribbean, each serving as a Junior Minister/Commissioner of Tourism. Participants delivered prepared presentations on key topics reshaping the industry, including the shift from the traditional three S’s of Caribbean tourism (sea, sun, sand) to the new three S’s (smart technology, sustainable practices, social inclusion).

They also tackled mystery questions designed to spark imagination and problem-solving – from how to position their destinations in new and creative ways to how tourism products can evolve to remain fresh and impactful. Their responses showcased both quick thinking and genuine passion for the sector.

The Virgin Islands made history when Ms Naomi A. Onwufuju, a then 16-year-old student of Elmore Stoutt High School (ESHS), was crowned Regional ‘Junior Ambassador of Tourism’ at the Caribbean Tourism Organisation’s (CTO) Youth Congress held in Turks and Caicos Islands on Friday, October 13, 2023.