Davidson-Celestine outlined various initiatives taking place within Tobago’s tourism industry to stimulate growth and increase the destination’s competitiveness in the international travel market. One area of focus mentioned is increasing and improving the quality of the destination’s room stock.
Attracting foreign investment, particularly in relation to hotel development, is critical to this process she said.
“There are currently sixteen sites across the island that have been identified for hotel development through an initiative geared toward attracting international investment in the hotel industry,” she said.
The Secretary also took this opportunity to highlight some of the island’s more attractive features. She noted the growth of the romance niche over the last year with the introduction of the Tobago Bridal Association. She provided an overview of the sports tourism niche, focusing on conventional sports such as cycling, along with the unconventional and goat and crab racing unique to Tobago.
Secretary Davidson-Celestine is a part of the Trinidad and Tobago delegation attending the annual tourism and travel trade convention in Germany. She is the head of the Tobago House of Assembly delegation that comprises the Administrator, Division of Tourism and Transportation, Claire Williams, other Division officials and tourism stakeholders.
Also in attendance were the Minister of Tourism, The Honourable Stephen Cadiz; Ambassador to Germany, His Excellency Garvin Nicholas; Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Tourism, Julianna Boodram and other officials from the Ministry and the Tourism Development Company (TDC).
ITB is the largest travel trade show in the world, attracting more than 170,000 visitors and 113,000 trade visitors. Trinidad and Tobago was among approximately 11,000 exhibitors representing 180 countries.
German travelers represent 12 percent of Tobago’s international arrivals. The Division of Tourism and Transportation participates in ITB annually, along with the Ministry of Tourism and the TDC to maintain its presence in the German market and develop and cultivate relationships with key industry stakeholders.