by Brian Major
Last updated: 12:40 PM ET, Tue May 5, 2026
Carnival Corporation & plc is doubling down on its
commitment to the Caribbean, culminating in a week of collaboration at the Caribbean
Tourism Organization (CTO)'s Sustainable Tourism Conference (STC) in San Pedro,
Ambergris Caye, Belize.
As a sponsor of CTO’s 2026 Caribbean Sustainable Tourism Awards,
Carnival Corporation helped spotlight community-led initiatives that ensure
tourism growth delivers direct economic benefits to local residents. This year’s
Community-Based Tourism Award went to Guyana Inni Lodge-Toka Village,
recognized for its standout model of community-led tourism.
Representing the company on stage, Benton Lobo, vice
president of compliance and environmental operations for Carnival Cruise Line, joined a panel of experts to
discuss “Innovating Cruise Tourism in the Blue Economy.”
Lobo emphasized the importance of balancing growth with
environmental stewardship and strong destination partnerships. “The future of
cruise tourism won’t be defined by growth alone. It will be defined by how well
we manage that growth, partner with destinations and reduce our environmental
footprint,” he remarked.
During the session, Lobo detailed several ongoing
projects Carnival Cruise Line is spearheading across the Caribbean, including:
- Waste reduction: New
partnerships focused on local recycling and composting to keep waste out of
Caribbean ecosystems.
- Economic inclusion: Expanding career outreach and creating more opportunities for small- and
medium-sized local businesses to join the tourism supply chain.
- Sustainability: Strengthening the blue economy through smarter stewardship of marine resources.
“The Caribbean is central to our operations and our future.
Strengthening partnerships and creating shared value with local communities is
essential to ensuring long-term success for both the industry and the
destinations we serve,” added Lobo.
STC remains the region’s premier forum for leaders and
policymakers to share practical solutions for the future of sustainable tourism
in the Caribbean. This year’s gathering brought together more than 60 speakers
and over 300 participants to explore how blue, green, orange and other emerging
economies can drive a more inclusive and sustainable industry, spanning topics
from marine conservation and climate action to culture, creativity and
community empowerment.
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