It seems like Trinidad and Tobago Tourism sector is well on its way to recovery in 2022. The Minister of Tourism, Culture and the Arts Senator the Honourable Randall Mitchell while speaking in the Senate during the recently concluded Budget debate, has announced a series of initiatives which includes a ‘Festival of Fetes’ to take place at the end of August 2022.

The Minister of Tourism, Culture and the Arts,

Senator the Honourable Randall Mitchell

It is hoped that this concept of the ‘Festival of Fetes’ initiative will make Trinidad and Tobago the destination of choice post-COVID-19 pandemic. The ministry aims to package and market the number of band launches that occur during the period of June/July into a band launch season occurring over the space of two weekends as a festival.

Sharing with the Upper House, the Minister explained the following:

“Towards the end of August, we envision another festival that celebrates our distinct creative culture and how we have been able to innovate our hosting of events over the past years. With these new festivals, we see the creation of economic value for our cultural workers, our artistes, promoters, musicians and their ability to earn. As well as all the service providers. We see the attraction of visitors who could not make it for Carnival but who could perhaps visit and attend some of these new festivals. And as we plan and package these festivals, at present we are working with the promoters and with the Attorney General’s Office to reduce the bureaucracy that exists with hosting these events, with permissions from Fire, Police and the various licences. Simply put, the idea is to get more visitors, and more value created in the economy through our creative sector,”

The Minister also revealed that since the cancellation of Carnival this year, the economy has faced a major economical hit. Noting that Carnival alone accumulates 10% of the country’s total visitors with an estimated TT$450 million, almost half a billion dollars in direct spending from visitors with this figure mostly accounting for the 10 days leading up to Carnival Monday and Tuesday. Not to mention, the obvious benefits for stakeholders, such as artistes, promoters, mas makers, vendors and many more who earn during this time.

The Minister also shared his plans to improve other cultural celebrations, such as ‘Emancipation Day’, ‘Divali’, and ‘Phagwa’ celebrations to give them a much greater appeal and a source of attraction for visitors.

Other plans mentioned also includes the upgrading and additions of more Hotel rooms such as The Radisson Blu, The Brix, Comfort Inn Suites, as well as, the previous announcement of the construction of the Marriott in Tobago (a 200 Room 4 Star hotel), which will become an Anchor Property for the Island of Tobago with construction due to complete by 2024-2025. There is also a plan for another hotel, Hampton by Hilton at Piarco for 103 rooms, Coffee shop, Restaurant, Conference Meeting Room which is carded to start in January 2022.

With so many plans and initiatives in the works, the Minister also announced a new KLM flight between Amsterdam and Port of Spain that would act as a gateway to Europe.

“…this new route from Amsterdam reopens the possibilities for the Expansion of Trade, Tourism to the Dutch and other surrounding Markets with Trinidad and Tobago. It also opens up for faster connections for the majority of Trinbagonians of the West African and Indian Diaspora to connect through Amsterdam.”

And lastly, the Minister announced that they have received Cabinet’s Approval for their ‘Cultural Ambassador Programme’ that will be launching soon. As they will be selecting Cultural Ambassadors who have, by their talents, secured large fan bases and followings across the world to promote the Destination and our Culture.

 

Sources include https://www.guardian.co.tt,

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