Public Panel on Tourism Carrying Capacity in the Caribbean to Be Livestreamed
WILLEMSTAD – The 10th International Conference on Tourism and Leisure Studies will take place from June 18 to 20, 2025, at the University of Curaçao (UoC). This three-day gathering will bring together international delegates to share innovative ideas and recent developments in the field of tourism and recreation.
The main theme of this year’s conference is: “Caribbean Hospitality: Global Lessons from Local Experiences.” A key sub-theme is: “Tourism, Leisure, and Accessibility: Principles for Inclusion and Connection.”
The conference aims to provide a platform for academic experts, professors, researchers, industry professionals, and stakeholders to explore essential issues in the region’s hospitality sector, discuss current research agendas, and draw broader lessons for the global tourism industry.
Delegates from 11 countries are expected to participate, including the United States, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Germany, Canada, Barbados, Croatia, Colombia, Japan, Cyprus, and Curaçao.
Organized by Common Ground Research Networks, which established the Tourism & Leisure Studies Research Network in 2015, the 2025 edition is hosted in collaboration with the University of Curaçao, the Ministry of Economic Development, and the Curaçao Tourist Board (CTB).
A special public panel on “Tourism Carrying Capacity” will feature case studies from around the region and provide practical insights on how to manage tourism growth in a responsible and sustainable way. The term “carrying capacity” refers to the maximum number of people or activities an environment can support without negative environmental, social, or economic impact.
The panel will feature the following experts:
Amy Victorina, Archaeologist at National Archaeological Anthropological Memory Management (NAAM)
Dino Daal, Associate Program Director, International Hospitality and Tourism Management, Faculty of Social Sciences and Economics (UoC)
Muryad de Bruin, Director of the Curaçao Tourist Board (CTB)
Seleni Matus, Adjunct Professor at George Washington University and Director of the International Institute of Tourism Studies, currently leading carrying capacity research on Curaçao
In addition to the panel, site visits to key tourist locations on the island will offer conference participants a firsthand look at how Curaçao balances tourism growth with sustainable development.
The people of Curaçao are invited to watch the carrying capacity panel live online via the University of Curaçao’s website on June 19, from 9:00 to 11:00 AM.
A meaningful dialogue is expected, filled with valuable connections and the exchange of knowledge that will help shape the future of tourism in Curaçao, the wider Caribbean, and beyond.
