BVI NextGen Tourism Winners Recognised for Regional
Three students from the H. Lavity Stoutt Community College have been officially recognised for their first-place finish at the Caribbean Tourism Organization’s (CTO) Regional NextGen Tourism Showcase.
Lavity Stoutt Community College have been officially recognised for their first-place finish at the Caribbean Tourism Organization’s (CTO) Regional NextGen Tourism Showcase. Adrianne Thomas, Auri-Ana El Shabazz and Naomi Onwufuj received their winners’ cheques on Tuesday from Junior Minister for Culture and Tourism, Honourable Luce Hodge-Smith, during a brief ceremony in the British Virgin Islands.
The students emerged as regional champions during Caribbean Week in New York on June 5, 2026, after presenting their innovative tourism proposal, “Caribbean Green and Blue Economy Tourism Hub.” The Virgin Islands team competed against finalists from Saint Lucia and the Turks and Caicos Islands, with their proposal earning the judges’ top recognition for its approach to combining tourism development, environmental conservation and community participation.
Their concept envisions a self-sustaining tourism model in which revenues generated through tourism are channelled into marine restoration, sustainability initiatives and opportunities for local economic participation. Hodge-Smith congratulated the students on their achievement, praising their creativity, professionalism and commitment to developing sustainable solutions for the Caribbean tourism industry.
She said the victory demonstrates the talent and innovative capacity of Virgin Islands youth while highlighting the Territory’s contribution to shaping the future of Caribbean tourism. Also present at the ceremony were Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sustainable Development Joseph Smith-Abbott; Human Resources Manager Ziina Hanley; and Director of the BVI Tourist Board and Film Commission, Clive McCoy.
Primary source: 284 Media