Pellau Magazine

Cornell Buckradee, left, general manager, marketing and communications Tourism Development Company, chats with Bill Obreiter, Orbitz director, partner marketing, east coast United States and the Caribbean, Juliana Boodram, permanent secretary, Ministry of Tourism, Sandra Perkins, chief executive officer, TDC, Rajiv Shandilya, chairman, TDC, and Patrizio Busnel, market manager, Caribbean, Travelocity. The occasion was a meet-and-greet session with US and Canadian travel and online tour operators at the Hyatt Regency Trinidad hotel, Port-of-Spain. PHOTO: SEAN NERO
The People's Partnership Government (PP) has set its sights on developing the popular Ariapita Avenue strip in Woodbrook, which is under the control of the People's National Movement-led (PNM) Port-of-Spain City Corporation, to become an essential part of this country's emerging tourism sector.

 

The location is considered to be a key area for exploitation in the re-design and ultimate roll out of products that T&T will offer to the world. Juliana Boodram, permanent secretary in the Tourism Ministry, said Government was looking at revitalising the quaint stretch of restaurants and liming spots along Ariapita Avenue in Woodbrook.

 

Delivering a speech on behalf of line minister Dr Rupert Griffith at the May 9 meeting of US and Canadian travel and online tour operators at the Hyatt Regency Trinidad, she said the project, together with a number of other restoration and urban regeneration projects, was intended to complement a new renaissance for the city as the region's cultural capital.

 

Fifteen tour operators from Expedia, Orbitz and Travelocity were in T&T last week at the behest of the Tourism Development Company to participate in tours aimed at re-introducing and re-engaging them in the delights of T&T. Boodram said this country must be presented as much more than a tropical getaway if it is to achieve success as a travel destination.

 

"In a tourism-dependent area such as the Caribbean that welcomed an estimated 23.8 million tourists in 2011, the success of T&T as a tourist destination depends to a large extent on our capacity to differentiate and re-invent ourselves.

 

"It is time that we in T&T come on board with the all-pervading technology to reach our customers in a meaningful way. Our customers are the new journalists as they speak to each other, share experiences and campaign across the world wide web," she said.

 

"No speech that I can deliver can transmit the unique experiences that T&T offers. The face of tourism has changed with the rapid advent of globalisation and information technology. As travellers become more technology-savvy, the Internet is an overriding factor in the consumer travel decision," said Boodram.

 

She added: "By the end of 2011, over 85 per cent of all mobile handsets globally provided access to the Internet and eight trillion SMS text messages were sent across the world. "Travellers now build their holidays through their phones with specially-designed applications or 'apps' which provide services ranging from tourist information to checking-in services and itinerary planning. Top world-class destinations are previewing their new advertising campaigns online through Facebook."

 

Citing the connected series of events on the technological front, Boodram said the ministry was investing further in creating a mix of vibrant and diverse events throughout the year, ranging from community culinary activities to sports and cultural events, geared towards heightening visitor arrivals and domestic tourism. She said the proposed rich calendar of events would stir the blend of offerings that will differentiate this country from other in the region.

 

"We will continue developing other thematic sectors in the near future, including agro-tourism, eco-tourism, medical tourism and sports tourism. "We have also made further inroads in improving our airlift capability. Our national airline, Caribbean Airlines, will soon be re-commencing its London route to capitalise on the London Olympics and the ever growing Caribbean diaspora, and we are also exploring air linkages with India," she said.
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> from The Trinidad Guardian Newspaper http://www.guardian.co.tt/business/2012-05-13/govt-revitalise-ariapita-avenue
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