Antigua and Barbuda’s Junior Minister of Tourism, Janica Adams, has earned an Honourable Mention and Special Recognition Award at the Caribbean Tourism Organization’s Regional Tourism Youth Congress 2026 in Georgetown, Guyana.
According to a release issued on October 9, the special distinction was created to recognise qualities Adams demonstrated beyond the competition’s established judging criteria, including her communication skills, creativity and ability to connect with the audience.
The congress took place during the State of the Tourism Industry Conference (SOTIC), where Adams delivered a prepared presentation on “Cultural Industries and Tourism Innovation,” exploring the role of culture and creativity in the future of Caribbean tourism.
Her response during the mystery question segment drew particular attention.
Asked to persuade a potential visitor to choose her destination in just one minute without mentioning its beaches, Adams highlighted Antigua’s Green Corridor, ziplining experiences, art and local cuisine.
Her inclusion of bun and cheese ice cream generated a buzz among audience members, with the release describing her response as drawing enthusiastic applause.
The pitch showcased attractions beyond Antigua and Barbuda’s familiar beach appeal and demonstrated her ability to promote the destination under the pressure of an unexpected question.
Tourism Minister H. Charles Fernandez congratulated Adams, praising both her performance and the qualities she brought to the regional stage.
“Janica has made Antigua and Barbuda exceptionally proud. Her confidence, creativity, quick thinking and obvious passion for our tourism industry are precisely the qualities we must continue to nurture in our young people,” Fernandez said.
He also linked her achievement to efforts to build tourism awareness among young Antiguans and Barbudans through the Tourism Cadet Corps programme.
“What was most important is to see that knowledge and appreciation for tourism is reaching our young people through our Tourism Cadet Corp program. The future of tourism remains bright with our young people,” he said.
Fernandez underscored the importance of investing in future tourism leaders, describing Adams’ performance as an example of the potential within Antigua and Barbuda’s youth.
