Tourism is priority for TT

Ramkhelawan made the statement on Wednesday at a Quality in Tourism stakeholder forum hosted by the Tourism Development Company (TDC) at Cara Suites Hotel in Claxton Bay.

The forum brought together various industry stakeholders to speak about the important role that quality assurance in the industry plays in attracting visitors from around the world to Trinidad and Tobago.

“We want visitors to our shores to have confidence in what our islands offer...to spread the word about how great Trinidad and Tobago is,” said Ramkhelawan who spoke on behalf of Minister of Tourism, Shamfa Cudjoe who, she said, was absent due to unforeseen circumstances.

She said this cannot happen unless the quality of the country’s tourism products and services are standardised and improved.

Leading the way towards this improvement would be the Quality Cluster of Programs which involves the Trinidad and Tobago Tourism Industry Certification (TTTIC), Small Tourism Enterprises Project (STEP), STAR (Service. Training.

Attitude. Respect ), Environmental Conservation, and Visitor Safety and Security programs.

According to Ramkhelawan, over 500 industry operators are in line to receive certification from the TTTIC.

This certification is granted to industry operators such as hotel owners, taxi drivers, tour guides and motor vehicle rental owners who meet the TDC’s standards of quality. According to the Tourism Ministry’s website, operators who receive certification “are fully endorsed by the TDC and THA, and the TTTIC logo is an effective marketing tool and an official assurance to visitors that the certified tourism practitioner has been inspected and satisfies all the requirements of the National Standard.” The National Standard for Tourism was developed by the Trinidad and Tobago Bureau of Standards and through conversations with stakeholders.

“Government’s approach to improving Trinidad and Tobago’s tourism product is holistic” Ramkhelawan said.

Attendees were also addressed by TDC’s Quality Cluster Project leaders on ways in which their industry could build competitiveness in a global market.

Also in attendance were representatives of the Ministry of Health, the Trinidad and Tobago Transport Association, the Bureau of Standards, the Merikin Heritage Foundation and Nature Seekers, among others.