He said the objective was to instill in residents the need to be aware of the importance of tourism to the island’s economic development. He said crime protection and prevention will be among the topics to be discussed.
Williams also revealed that his Division plans to hold a meeting of property owners and operators in the hospitality industry on the island to discuss their role in maintaining adequate security at their properties. He said the Division would insist that properties maintain the required security standards. They will also be told of the minimum standard required in the process.
Williams was speaking at a tourism stakeholders meeting at the Division of Tourism Conference Room in Scarborough on Thursday.
He said the THA was very concerned with the crime situation on the island especially crime against tourists. He said CCTV will shortly be installed in crime hot spots. He also explained the Assembly’s “victims of crime policy” which has been in existence for a long time and which still guided its action when tourists became victims of crime.
Williams said the policy was of a humanitarian touch that included facilitating access to medical treatment and emotional support; help in temporary accommodation; supply of basic necessities; assistance in contacting family and friends; counselling; access to legal processes; contact with embassies; assisting in making travel arrangements; obtaining replacement documents; and any additional advice. He said victims were facilitated whenever they have to return to attended court cases relevant to their cases.
Assistant President of the Tobago Hospitality and Tourism Association (THTA) Chris James said his association was very keen in moving tourism forward and will launch a Road Show at the Gulf City Mall in south Trinidad next week to encourage visitors to Tobago.
He disclosed that the £100 incentive being offered to European and British travellers who pay for a two-week stay in Tobago was catching on and said 14 more Tour Operators had joined the campaign.
The postponed high-powered meeting of Government Ministers, THA officials and tourism stakeholders to discuss the tourism industry is tentatively fixed for 6 p.m. on Monday at the Division of Tourism in Scarborough.