Highest tourism rate this year

Tobago is expected to reach record high visitor arrivals of 72, 000 by the end of the year according to Minister of Tourism, Howard Chin Lee.

He was speaking at TIDCO’s welcome dinner for the Caribbean Tourism Organisation’s (CTO) Chapter Presidents at the Hilton Trinidad on Friday night. “This number,” he said, “is compared to 49,000 vistors in 2001 when the tourism industry was on the verge of collapse.” Chin Lee stated that both Trinidad and Tobago are expected to have “stay-over” air arrivals increasing from 317,000 in 2002 to a high of 400,000 in 2003. “The Caribbean, and this includes both Trinidad and Tobago, is still considered as a safe destination,” he said, “Compared to other parts of the world, the Caribbean has a relatively low rate of criminal and terrorist activity.”

Chin Lee stated, however,  that the safety of the Caribbean is an attribute that needs to be focused upon in “our marketing efforts.” He added that the Government had recognised the importance of supporting airlift and marketing incentives. He said that on December 13, Trinidad will welcome the inaugural Continental Airlines flight from Newark, which will be bringing in 100 passengers.