By KARL E CUPID
PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad – Tobago’s unique and distinctive tourism product, separate and apart from that of Trinidad, must be clearly defined in any national tourism policy. That was the strongly-held view which emerged during part two of the Tourism Ministry’s public consultation on the draft national tourism policy, held at the Coco Reef Resort and Spa, Crown Point, Tobago, last week.
It was vigorously argued by several speakers from the floor, that there was a marked difference between Tobago and Trinidad in terms of a tourism destination and the product offered. In this regard, it was suggested that this clear distinction, must be made in any policy document encompassing the tourism sector in the twin-island state. One businesswoman even questioned the possibility of having separate policies. “The two islands are so different, I wonder if it’s advisable to put the two islands under one draft… Is there any possibility of doing separate policies?” inquired Caroline Hardie, owner/proprietress of Banana Boat restaurant/guesthouse at Charlotteville.
Daniel Nicholson, Tourism Development Officer at the THA, set things in motion when he noted there were three distinctly different tourism products: the Tobago product, the Trinidad product, and the Trinidad and Tobago product. Neil Wilson, former Secretary of Tourism and now a senior consultant with the Tourism Division, asserted the “Trinidad and Tobago product” served to complement both the “Trinidad product” and the “Tobago product”. And, responding to these concerns, he assured participants that during a recent meeting between ministry officials and a THA team, prior to the consultation, Chief Secretary Orville London had strongly supported the argument.
“The Chief Secretary has made it clear there must be a distinction in the policy document to distinguish the different destinations of Trinidad and of Tobago,” Wilson said.
