TRINIDAD AND Tobago has launched a new initiative aimed at luring tourist to the oil-rich twin island republic with officials indicating that there were airlines that have expressed interest in flying to the country in the post coronavirus era.

Tourism, Culture and the Arts Minister, Randall Mitchell, speaking at the launch of Destination Trinidad website, said it is a follow up to the VisitTobago website in marketing and promoting both destinations and stakeholders expect both to stand out in a very competitive tourism industry.

“In addition to our destination marketing, in terms of destination development, we are also seeking to improve airlift and presently we are in discussions with a couple of airlines who have expressed interest in flying to Tobago as well as Trinidad when the world moves to open up post COVID-19.”

Borders reopen

“We also continue to maintain and develop our sites and attractions in anticipation of receiving our international visitors when the borders reopen, as well as to cater to our local citizens exploring the islands of Trinidad and Tobago,” Mitchell said.

Mitchell said he also wanted to address a question that has been repeatedly asked in light of the Covid-19 pandemic and the resulting fallout.

He said that stakeholders have been seeking to know what are the plans for the sector going forward noting that the Ministry of Tourism, in Ministry, along with the Tourism Trinidad Limited (TTL) are working with the Ministry of Health and the Trinidad-based Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) in developing health protocols; preparing for the reopening in the face of this Covid-19 pandemic.

“We are in the process of rolling out very comprehensive hygiene standards for all our stakeholders in the sector. Secondly, we have and will continue to place emphasis on domestic tourism. We feel that in the face of the Covid-19 pandemic and with the closure of our borders domestic tourism – Trinidad and Tobago – is our newest and most exotic destination,” he said.

Mitchell said also that Trinidad and Tobago will continue with its destination development programme, “which is where the launch of this website is most significant for developing the tourism product going forward.

Marketing

“And now, with just this one website, all of those mounds of marketing and promotional material can now be found in just one repository in digital format. And this fits most squarely with Government’s digitisation push.

“We know that when it comes to planning a trip, and when searching for things to do on that trip, the platform of choice is a destination’s website. This VisitTrinidad website will now become one of the most valuable tools and one of the first marketing tools and one of the first touch points in the customer journey when making that decision to travel.”

He said when visiting the website, travellers are expected to find correct, trustworthy and practical information designed to inspire and capture their hearts and minds.