Trinidad & Tobago is anticipating 16 ships and more than 30,000 visitors during the 2015/2016 cruise ship season, which kicks off next month. Luxury cruise ships, including MSC Cruises’ MSC Orchestra, have added Trinidad & Tobago ports of call to their upcoming itineraries, while major cruise lines, including Carnival, Princess and Oceania, plan to return for the new season.
“Travelers are seeking something different than the typical beach vacation,” says Greer Assam, cruise ship market specialist for the Trinidad & Tobago Tourism Development Company (TDC). “Our destinations offer unique Caribbean experiences for cruisers because of our diverse products such as culture, cuisine, eco, adventure, beaches and waterfalls, cultural festivals, etc.”
According to the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO), Trinidad and Tobago, which reported 104 percent growth in its cruise tourism arrivals between 2014 and 2015, experienced the largest rate of growth reported for any destination in the Caribbean. To accommodate the expected influx of visitors, cruise lines are expanding their onshore excursion offerings in the destination’s capital city, Port of Spain, and surrounding cities.
Trinidad & Tobago Tourism Development Company (TDC) is helping cruisers acclimate to the area by placing complimentary visitor guides in and around the Port of Port of Spain, in addition to positioning local tourism ambassadors at the cruise ship terminal and in the streets of the capital city to provide visitors with directions and information on local attractions.
“Trinidad and Tobago has something for every visitor to enjoy,” notes Assam. “From its diverse people and culture to its amazing biodiversity, the dual island nation breaks the mold of the typical Caribbean destination. With a range of activities, sites and attractions to thrill the adventure-seeker, beguile the sun worshippers, captivate the nature enthusiast and mesmerise the culture aficionados, Trinidad and Tobago guarantees its visitors gratifying memories to last a lifetime.” For more information, visit gotrinidadandtobago.com.
For accreditation as a Trinidad and Tobago Specialist, visit edu.recommend.com/courses/21/trinidad-tobago-travel-agent-specialist-program.
