Tobago hotels at 76% capacity for Easter

With a week to go before the long Easter weekend, the Tobago Hotel and Tourism Association is reporting a 76 per cent occupancy rate.

The association’s president Chris James said while this percentage encompasses hotels, guesthouses and villas and other establishments in the accommodation sector, villas are almost completely booked.

“Across the board, it is looking like about 76 per cent. But the villas are doing better, at around 90 per cent,” he told Newsday.

James said although he is pleased with the spike in occupancy, “It is only for four days, so I am not getting too excited.”

With the continued closure of TT’s borders to the international market to prevent the spread of covid19, Tobago’s hotel sector, which relies heavily on tourists, is still feeling the effects of the pandemic. Several were virtually shut down during the past year while others operated with a skeleton staff.

James is hoping the high occupancy rate continues beyond Easter.

In the meantime, he said: “Let us hope more people come up. Our problem generally is that it is only the weekends that are busy, while the weekdays are very quiet.”

James added this presents a challenge for both staff and operations.

“So it’s really difficult.”

He urged visitors to enjoy themselves in Tobago while adhering to covid19 protocols.

Meanwhile, Chief Secretary Ancil Dennis said a decision has not yet been taken on whether there will be any physical events in Tobago over the Easter weekend.

Easter has traditionally been one of the more hectic periods on the island’s socio-cultural calendar.

“Nothing concrete as yet, but there is the string possibility of a goat-racing event at Buccoo that will not be open to live audiences. It will strictly be a recorded and virtual event,” Dennis said via WhatsApp.

The annual Buccoo Goat and Crab Race, a highlight of the weekend, is usually held on Easter Tuesday.