Lifting up tourism

Each national budget speaks to growing contributions tourism and the creative sectors need to make to the national pie. Dr Auliana Poon, having worked extensively in the field of tourism, is in her own way developing tourism by L?v?.

Now in its second year, L?v? - Live the Caribbean is, “an initiative of the NGO Tourism Intelligence International Academy/Foundation… it is the only event that combines the creative industries of music, fashion, fine art, culture, cuisine, rum and rhythm into one exceptional event…” A written introduction on the event added, “L?v? will present to the world a fine cluster of exceptional brands and talent of Trinidad and Tobago. L?v? aims to create a marketplace to exchange ideas, products, creativity and talent and importantly, to grow the linkages between tourism and creative industries.” This year’s event will again be held at Villa Being, Arnos Vale, Tobago on April 23 from 4 pm to 7 pm. The event was held for the first time last year during the Tobago Jazz Experience and saw attendance by Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley and his wife, Sharon and also Tourism Minister Shamfa Cudjoe.

Poon [who holds a BA and MSc in Economics from the University of the West Indies and a DPhil in Technology and Economics from University of Sussex, England] has been credited, throughout her career, with developing successful tourism concepts.

Poon and Tourism Intelligence International Academy have done work for neighbouring Caribbean islands Barbados and Jamaica, Arab nation Abu Dhabi, Singapore, Mozambique and Malawi.

It is this far-reaching expertise that Poon hopes to incorporate into L?v?, with part of its objective being to showcase and promote the talent of TT/Caribbean on the local, regional and international levels as well as to grow the linkages between tourism and TT’s creative industries.

L?v? will showcase the talents of master tailor and designer Sir Andrew Ramroop, artist Shashtri Maharaj, chef Adrian Cumberbatch, designers Richard Young and Dominic Laroche, Dianne Hunt, music band Kin from Tobago and You- Tube personality Ro’dey. Tobago’s Pleasure Pirates, the Les Couteaux Folk Performers, the Distinguished Dresser, the winners of the Tobago Afro Queen competition and Gerard “Panman” Balfour will also be featured. At the launch of L?v?, Poon said to media gathered at Diane’s Tea Shop, 119 Long Circular Road, Port-of-Spain: “It is not the energy in the ground but the energy of the people of Trinidad and Tobago that will drive its future success, diversification and much-needed foreign exchange earnings.” L?v?, she said, was about demonstrating to the world that we have and we could make it happen. Poon said the event was also about partnering talent with emerging talent and creating “a platform of excellence” in TT.

The event is by invitation only.