Tourism

As Trinidad and Tobago continues to feel the impact of lower energy receipts, the tourism sector is emerging as a strategic development priority. Elected in September 2015, the government of Keith Rowley is placing a renewed emphasis on economic diversification to help the TT$175.99bn ($27.1bn) economy weather the downturn in the global energy market. Tourism, along with agriculture and manufacturing, has been identified as strategic in that quest. Despite the recessionary environment, T&T saw an upsurge in visitor arrivals – which increased by 6.6% in 2015 to reach 439,749 visitors – highlighting the sector’s resilience. The US accounted for 39% of international arrivals, followed by Canada (13%), the UK (9%), Scandinavia (2%), Ger¬many, Austria and Switzerland (2%), India (1%), the Caribbean (18%) and the rest of the world (16%). To accelerate growth a number of efforts are under way to raise the profile of key tourist sites, improve service standards and develop human capital. 

This chapter features an interview with Shamfa Cudjoe, Minister of Tourism.