TOURISM

Trinidad and Tobago is a melting pot of rich culture and heritage that have been present for many years. The country consists of persons of multiple races, cultures, religions and ethnicities where everyone strives to live in unity and harmony with one another. Trinidad and Tobago is eminent around the world for its rich culture which includes sports, cuisine, nature reserves, carnival and religious festivals. 

The following link shows a video which was intended to be a local advertisement promoting tourism in Trinidad and Tobago. Please view it and experience the wondrous island life: 

(1) This collage shows three different hotels located in the Port of Spain area including the Hyatt Regency, Kapok and Hilton.

Even though I did not have the opportunity to take a proper photo of the actual Hilton Hotel, I was still able to capture the immense structures built for other hotels in the city. Thousands of persons visit Trinidad and Tobago each year, whether they are frequent visitors or first-time. The main purpose of constructing so many hotels in the area is to accommodate all these tourists.

The Trinidad government invests significantly into the tourism sector and it brings certain benefits such as providing jobs within the industry, as well as an increased contribution to the country’s GDP. Caribbean countries depend on tourism as their main source of revenue as it contributes 13.9% to its economic output (TDC, 2012). As a country whose main source of revenue is the energy sector (via export of oil and natural gas), Trinidad is seeking to pursue economic diversification plans. Trinidad’s economy would change as global prices and demand changes for oil and gas, therefore, there s a need to become less dependent on the energy sector.

 Read the following newspaper article for details on diversifying Trinidad’s economy and assessing the viability of tourism:

http://www.trinidadexpress.com/business-magazine/Is_tourism_a_viable_alternative_-103980824.html

(2) This photo was taken at the BP Renegades Pan Yard on Charlotte Street, Port of Spain.

As many persons may already know, the steel pan instrument originated in Trinidad and Tobago for over 50 years and has been enjoyed by audiences in many countries around the world since its development. The steel pan has been a part of Trinidad’s culture for many years and its presence is most dominant around carnival time. Every year, scores of tourists visit Trinidad to take part in carnival as it has now become a globally popular event. It is therefore, obvious that Trinidad benefits significantly during the carnival season by increased revenue and foreign exchange. 

To learn more about this exciting annual event and its role in Trinidad’s economy, click the following link: 

http://www.islandmix.com/backchat/f6/economics-carnival-186320/

(3) The Port of Spain Ferry Terminal located off Wrightson Road, Port of Spain.

This photo was taken in order to get the terminal and the ferry at the left. Although I was unable to get a full view, I managed to capture a part of the ferry which was docked nearby. This vessel is the “Warrior Spirit” which is used for transporting heavy cargo and big vehicles. The ferry terminal is a part of the port (see previous post on “TRADE”) where cruise ships dock to pick up and drop off passengers. The ferry service is a 2.5 hour journey from Port of Spain to Scarborough, Tobago. This is a fairly short trip which allows frequent travel to and from each sister isle.  

References:

Tourism Development Company. 2012. Travel and Tourism Economic Impact 2010. Trinidad and Tobago: TDC.