The chta calls for a new, broader framework to measure the true value of caribbean tourism

The Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association is urging governments, tourism bodies, development banks, regional institutions, and private-sector leaders to adopt a broader way of measuring tourism’s value. Instead of focusing only on visitor spending, CHTA wants the region to track how much tourism money stays in local economies, how the industry invests in workers, and how it affects the environment. The proposal grew out of the 2026 Caribbean Travel Forum in Antigua. CHTA recommends using a “Domestic Capture Rate” to measure retained value, while also tracking training, wages, local leadership, energy use, waste, water, and natural-resource protection.