Royal Caribbean explores partnership with local manufacturers at TIC

A delegation from Royal Caribbean Cruise Line – world's second largest cruise line – used the ongoing Trade and Investment Convention (TIC) at the Centre of Excellence, Macoya as an opportunity to meet with local manufacturers and agro-producers to source connections to increase their use of domestic products when docked at the port in Port of Spain.

Some of the companies the delegation met with were Angostura, the National Agricultural Marketing and Development Corporation, Nestle, among others, a release from the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and the Arts said on Friday.

The release said, Royal Caribbean Cruises is taking advantage of the local produce and other items from Trinidad to lend support to local farmers and the economy, as well as provide their guests with a taste of our country beyond their tours.

Minister of Tourism, Culture and the Arts, Randall Mitchell, said, "Royal Caribbean is an important partner in the development of our local cruise industry. Their return during the 2022-2023 season and the increased number of calls expected for the 2023-2024 season are testaments to their commitment to TT. This, coupled with their recent recruitment drive, augurs well for a strengthened relationship going forward."

He added, "We are happy to have Royal Caribbean Cruises as one of our guests during this important event. They are a valued partner in our tourism industry and a key contributor to our economic development. We appreciate their commitment to providing quality cruise experiences to our visitors and their support for our local goods, services, culture and arts. We hope that their visit during TIC 2023 will not only inspire more collaboration, but also benefit the local suppliers."

The next cruise ship season is expected to bring twice the amount of passengers between November and next May, the release said.

CEO of Tourism Trinidad Ltd, Carla Cupid, said, "We are naturally very interested in the outcomes of Royal Caribbean Cruises being here. They are a leading cruise company with a global reputation and a loyal customer base. They also share our vision of responsible travel and sustainability, which are crucial to the future of tourism on our island. We look forward to working with them to promote Trinidad as a premier cruise destination."