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Basseterre, St. Kitts, August 23, 2026 (Times Caribbean) — Regional tourism leaders, senior government officials and travel industry professionals gathered in St. Kitts on Sunday for the General Session of the 2026 ASTA Caribbean Showcase, held at the St. Kitts Marriott Resort Ballroom.

The high-level session brought together representatives from across the Caribbean and the United States for destination presentations, industry briefings and discussions focused on the future of regional travel and tourism.

Among the featured speakers and honoured guests were Hon. Marsha T. Henderson, St. Kitts and Nevis’ Minister of Tourism, Civil Aviation, International Transport, Employment and Labour, and Urban Development; Hon. Mark Brantley, Premier of Nevis; Hon. Dr. Kishore Shallow, Minister of Tourism and Maritime Affairs of St. Vincent and the Grenadines; Hon. Zhavargo Jolly, Minister of Tourism, Agriculture, Fisheries, Heritage and the Environment of the Turks and Caicos Islands; and Hon. Luce Hodge-Smith, Junior Minister for Tourism and Culture in the British Virgin Islands.

The General Session was hosted by Zane Kerby, President and CEO of the American Society of Travel Advisors (ASTA).

Also attending was Gary Sadler, Executive Vice President for Sales and Industry Relations at Unique Vacations, alongside tourism board representatives, travel advisors and other industry partners.

Presentations throughout the session highlighted emerging opportunities, destination priorities and developments shaping the Caribbean tourism sector.

The gathering also placed emphasis on strengthening relationships between destinations and travel advisors, while supporting sustainable tourism growth and stronger regional cooperation.

For St. Kitts, hosting the ASTA Caribbean Showcase provides another opportunity to place the destination directly before influential travel professionals who help connect Caribbean destinations with travellers in major international markets.

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