Tourism Minister: Airlines want to fly to TT post-covid19

The Minister of Tourism, Culture and the Arts Randall Mitchell said the recently launched VisitTrinidad.tt website will save taxpayers thousands of dollars. The new website cost $250,000.

He made the comment at the website's launch on Monday at Hilton Trinidad and Conference Centre, Lady Young Road, Port of Spain.

Tourism Trinidad Ltd is the state body responsible for the website and its launch. Its chairman Howard Chin Lee and CEO Heidi Alert were also at the launch.

The website and improved airlift are among the tools in the ministry’s strategy to market and promote TT in a post-covid world.

Mitchell said there were ongoing discussions with a couple of airlines which had expressed interest in flying to Tobago as well as Trinidad when the world opens up. He said two European carriers have expressed interest, but the ministry will wait and see whether the talks will come to fruition after the borders reopen.

“As we speak there is a lot of uncertainty in the travel industry. Airlines are going under, and a lot of these airlines as well have to plan their flying schedules at least a year in advance,” he said.

Micthell, who delivered the feature address, said on his way to the ministry he would pass “mounds upon mounds” of dated promotional material in the form of pamphlets, booklets and DVDs.

“And I can’t help but think that in a time prior, how much money the TT taxpayer would have had to pay in marketing the destination for such small marketing reach,” he said.

He added that with the website the mounds of marketing and promotional material can be found in one place and it fitted with the Government’s digitisation push.

“I think it saves the taxpayer a considerable amount of money. In times gone by, the TDC would have spent tens of thousands if not hundreds of thousands of dollars to constantly put out promotional material.... Then the cost to get that aboard...so it saves us a considerable amount of money,” he said to the media after the launch.

Mitchell said the website was vivid and beautiful and provided virtual tours as well as used immersive technology to showcase local sights and attractions.

He said he was constantly being asked what the ministry planned to do going forward.

There will also be continued emphasis on domestic tourism and a destination development programme.

“This VisitTrinidad Website will now become one of the most valuable tools, one of the first marketing tools and one of the first touchpoints in the customer’s journey when making that decision to travel.

“When visiting this website, travellers are expected to find correct, trustworthy and practical information designed to inspire and capture their hearts and minds.

“This website is designed to be the window to the beautiful island of Trinidad and its fun-loving people and provide the first brand experience that focuses on the niches of business tourism, event tourism, sport tourism and ecotourism.”

Mitchell said the ministry was working with Tourism Trinidad, the Health Ministry and Caribbean Public Health Agency (Carpha) in developing health protocols and preparing for reopening. He added that the group was rolling out very comprehensive hygiene standards for all stakeholders in the sector.