Tobago targets Canadian tourists

TOBAGO is being actively marketed in Canada as the island sees potential in attracting tourists from far north to its sunny beaches.

THA Secretary for Tourism, Culture and Transportation Nadine Stewart-Phillips was recently in Canada for the launch of the new Tobago Beyond brand which will officially reveal the “Go to Market Strategy” in the Canadian market, with a series of customized events for travel trade and consumer media, travel intermediaries, airline partners, social media influencers, local VIP’s and high net worth influencers.

Canada was identified by the Tobago Tourism Agency Ltd (TTAL) in its Road Map as one of the new growth markets for destination Tobago.

On Wednesday last, Stewart-Phillips hosted a Caribbean-themed dinner in Toronto as part of ongoing collaborative efforts to woo Canadian visitors. Guests were greeted with 'live' steelpan music and mingled throughout the night to the backdrop of calypso and soca music while feasting on popular Tobago styled cuisines such as souse and saltfish cakes. Editors from fashion, food, travel and lifestyle media organisations were among those in attendance.

In addressing guests, the Tourism Secretary said, “this is just a taste of what Tobago has to offer.” She painted images of the island’s beautiful beaches and signature festivals, making reference to the Pigeon Point beach facilities.

“One of our most popular beaches is located at the Pigeon Point Heritage Park and was ranked among the top 100 beaches in the world by CNN. I urge you to insert Pigeon Point on your bucket list today, you won’t regret it,” she said.

She also pointed to festivals indigenous to the island. “The Tobago Jazz Experience in April, the Tobago Blue Food Festival in October and the Tobago Heritage Festival in July all showcase aspects of Tobago’s culture that are certainly worth exploring,” she said.

While, following the event, Secretary Stewart-Phillips said that she was satisfied with the intimacy of the dinner, which allowed the Tobago beyond brand message to successfully reach specific influencers with the ability to take the message to the right audience.

Stewart-Phillips led a delegation which included Chief Executive Officer of TTAL Louis Lewis and other representatives of the Division of Tourism, Culture and Transportation. The team returned to Tobago on Saturday.