CTO Appoints a New Sustainable Tourism Deputy Director

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados — The Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) has named Trinidadian Narendra Ramgulam as its first Deputy Director of Sustainable Tourism, a strategic new post designed to bolster the region’s commitment to sustainable and regenerative tourism development.

Ramgulam’s appointment, officially approved by the CTO Board of Directors, marks a pivotal step in the organization’s implementation of its Reimagine Plan — a vision focused on building a more inclusive, resilient, and environmentally responsible tourism sector across its member states.

“We are pleased to welcome Narendra to this new leadership role,” said CTO Secretary-General Dona Regis-Prosper. “His contributions over the past year have been instrumental, and we are confident that his expertise, innovation and deep passion for sustainability will continue to elevate our work across the region.”

Ramgulam joined the CTO in 2024 as a Sustainable Tourism Consultant and distinguished himself through his technical insight and leadership in policy development and stakeholder engagement. In his new role, he will be responsible for designing and executing regional strategies that promote sustainable tourism practices, build stakeholder capacity, document and share best practices, and monitor the impact of various sustainability initiatives.

With a strong academic and professional background, Ramgulam brings a wealth of experience to the post. A published researcher with 13 peer-reviewed articles and book chapters, he formerly served as Director of Tourism Product Development & Destination Management at the Tobago Tourism Agency Limited. There, his work earned Tobago accolades for sustainability and for its robust health and safety response during the COVID-19 pandemic.

He also served as Postgraduate Coordinator and Lecturer at the University of the West Indies, St. Augustine Campus, where he mentored the next generation of tourism professionals.

Ramgulam is expected to officially assume duties in mid-August, operating out of the CTO’s headquarters in Barbados.

His appointment has been widely welcomed as a signal of the CTO’s growing emphasis on balancing tourism growth with environmental and community well-being, as Caribbean destinations increasingly respond to climate threats, global travel shifts, and local development priorities.