Stay to Get Away extended

As a result of the overall success of the domestic tourism campaign Stay to Get Away, it will be extended year-round. This was revealed by Minister of Tourism Shamfa Cudjoe at a stakeholder appreciation cocktail party held to commemorate World Tourism Day at Chaquacabana Resort and Beach Club in Chaguaramas.

The Stay to Get Away initiative will now be expanded to include specials and discounts for public holidays and long weekends and the promotion of TT’s festivals and events not only locally but also on the Caribbean market.

The campaign was geared to encourage locals and residents to experience our tourism product in new and exciting ways and generate economic activity during slow periods among other goals. Stay to Get Away was beneficial to most stakeholders including Nature Seekers in Matura which said it saw a more than 45 per cent increase in additional tour business that resulted in improved revenues for the craft vendors, caterers and accommodation properties within the Salybia and Matura communities, said a media release.

The ministry said it would continue to work with all its stakeholders to address the challenges in the 2017 Stay to Get Away initiative and “tweak” the concept and execution of the campaign so as to widen participation, improve stakeholders’ income levels and expand the range of both the tour and accommodation offerings.

The ministry will start things off by launching a “My Trinbago Weekends” domestic campaign during which citizens will be encouraged to take advantage of long weekends and public holidays on the calendar to explore the country further. Cudjoe welcomed the new tourism entities which have come on board to diversify tour offerings but urged them to ensure that safety and security measures are incorporated within their operations. Environment preservation and adherence to accepted industry quality standards must be everyone’s hallmarks, she said.

At the ceremony, the prize of a one-night stay for two at the Forbes-acclaimed Villa Being in Tobago was awarded to Kristuf Beedasee, the winner of the My Fav #StayTnT Place photography competition run on Facebook. The prize was donated by Tourism Intelligence International.

The Stay to Get Away campaign was run in partnership with tourism stakeholders to give locals a chance to get out and start new vacation traditions, while also supporting local businesses and exploring TT.