German mayors for TT Carnival

This was stated by Minister of Tourism, Howard Chin Lee, while delivering the feature address at the launch of the official Soca Warriors website at the Crowne Plaza yesterday.

He added that the invitation also extended to many foreign journalists who want to visit and find out about the smallest qualifying country in the World Cup, our food and our culture.

Chin Lee said that following TT’s qualification for the World Cup in Germany, many calls to his office had him thinking about branding TT. Soon after, a Joint Tourism Marketing Steering Committee was organised to come up with a cost-effective, high quality, technology-oriented marketing programme that would afford maximum reach and impact on persons watching the 2006 World Cup Football games.

The committee, comprising of members from his ministry, the Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation (TTFF), the Ministry of Sport and the Tobago House of Assembly, has just completed its first project, the website: www.socawarriorstt.com

However, noting that the world won’t happen upon the website by chance, the website will be marketed to get people aware of its address. "In this regard, we have come up with another first for Trinidad and Tobago — an electronic logo that our local and regional co-op sponsors will run beneath their ads in the electronic media.

"This logo will also run as an ad by itself locally, regionally and internationally, to advertise the website and drive people to it," Chin Lee said. And after his address, guests were privy to a sneak preview of the website via a video presentation and the unveiling of an electronic logo.

Earlier, Terry Joseph of the Cultural Initiative for Germany 2006, said they will be engaging the finest steelband and Soca acts to put on attractions before the game days in the three German cities, to sensitise the people there. As such, the group has set up alliances for this year’s Carnival.

The website includes player profiles, video streaming of three-minute features on TT as a tourist destination, recent Soca Warriors 2006 World Cup qualification matches, and music videos by some of TT’s leading artistes. It also has a photo gallery, fun and games and linkage to major football and tourism websites.

The tourism aspect of the website provides information such as geographical location, culture, sites and attractions. There are several three-minute videos, some of which are on eco-tourism, Tobago, festivals, culinary, beaches, Soca music, how to play pan, Carnival and TT qualification celebrations.