Interview with Pablo Zambrano (Managing Director Caribbean Tours)

Dear Pablo, we welcomed you as Andreas Blass's successor in November 2025 in your role as Managing Director of Caribbean Tours within the Latinconnect network. How have you settled into your new position, and where are you based?

I was exceptionally well received by both the Caribbean Tours team and the Latinconnect alliance, and I am truly grateful for the trust and support shown from day one. My first months have focused on gaining a deep understanding of our team, products, and clients, and attending ITB Berlin provided an excellent opportunity to identify new business development avenues. I am strategically based in Brussels to stay closely connected to our European clients, while maintaining a strong presence through frequent travel to Zurich, where our headquarters are located, and - crucially -through continuous visits to our destinations to remain directly engaged with the markets we serve.

What strategic goals are you committed to?

At Caribbean Tours, we are advancing a strategic realignment designed to sharpen our focus, strengthen our destination expertise, and unlock new avenues for sustainable growth across our key markets. A central pillar of this plan is the development of products that respond to evolving traveller expectations, complemented by a stronger commercial structure that allows us to serve our partners with greater agility. At the same time, we are accelerating our digitalization roadmap to streamline distribution, improve responsiveness, and create a more seamless booking experience for our clients.

The political outlook for Cuba, as well as its future development as a travel destination, remains uncertain. How are you dealing with the current situation and what developments are you hoping for?

Cuba undoubtedly presents a complex environment, and we are responding by carefully adjusting our programs and operations to minimize the impact on travellers and partners alike. We are proud to say that, regardless of the circumstances, our team has consistently delivered the high-quality service and authentic experiences that define Caribbean Tours, thanks to the dedication of our people on the ground and our long-standing local partnerships. We continue to refine our processes in line with the current reality, while remaining fully prepared - and optimistic - to scale up again and offer meaningful Cuban experiences the moment the situation improves.

You are focusing on Mexico with operations in the neighboring countries of Belize and Guatemala - including cross-national roundtrips. What are your plans, e.g. regarding your product offerings?

Mexico is at the heart of our growth strategy, and we are actively expanding our portfolio with new programs in Baja California - an extraordinary destination combining nature, gastronomy, and authentic experiences - as well as Mexico City and its surroundings, where culture, history, and culinary excellence offer outstanding value for European travellers. We are leveraging the excellent flight connectivity from Europe to position Mexico as a year-round, highly accessible destination, while our Mundo Maya roundtrips give clients a seamless way to combine Mexico's southern regions with the cultural richness of Guatemala and Belize.

Our Guatemala program is already available through the Latinconnect platform, and we are working to deepen and enhance it in the very short term, delivering a truly distinctive Mundo Maya proposition that our partners will be able to sell with confidence and differentiation.

Latin America is predicted to experience growing demand in the future. What kind of travel and experiences do you particularly focus on in your countries?

Our focus is on designing meaningful journeys that respond to the evolving expectations of today's traveller, with a strong emphasis on sustainability, authenticity, and personalization. We are particularly investing in our roundtrip portfolio, which allows clients to discover the cultural and natural richness of our region through carefully crafted itineraries, while continuing to strengthen both our FIT proposition - where flexibility, tailor-made design, and curated experiences are key where reliable operations and well-balanced itineraries make the difference.