PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, Apr 20 – Trinidad and Tobago tourism officials Saturday said that the country had earned more than TT$48 million in revenue as a result of the “highly successful” seven month cruise ship season that ended last Thursday.
Inaugural arrival of the MSC Seaside“This successful season reflects our deep commitment to enhancing Trinidad and Tobago’s position as a premier cruise destination. We’re extremely pleased with the positive response and will continue to innovate to attract even more visitors in the future,” said Tourism, Culture and the Arts Minister, Randall Mitchell.
“The total expenditure by passengers to Trinidad and Tobago is approximately TT$48,568,292 million,” according to the figures released here.
The ministry said that the economic impact of this cruise season extended to various stakeholders and that increased revenue was generated at the various ports, for tour operators, taxi drivers, craft vendors and local businesses.
It said based on available data gathered by Tourism Trinidad’s visitor surveys, the average visitor spend was estimated at US$43 per person, equating to US$$3,356,193 million.
According to the Tobago Tourism Agency Limited, the estimated spend per passenger on tours was US$26 totalling US$2,587,728 for the season and that 26,890 passengers went on organised tours, with an average expenditure of US$25 per person.
The ministry said that the government’s focus on tourist satisfaction and strategic marketing initiatives played a significant role in this season’s achievements, noting that “proactive participation in trade events and collaborative efforts with cruise lines resulted in increased cruise calls and a wider reach for Trinidad and Tobago”.
It said that Mitchell attended the Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA) conferences over the past two years holding discussions with several cruise lines.
“This stimulated their interest in conducting business with the country which resulted in increases cruise calls. These initiatives increased the attractiveness of the destination and served as a catalyst for further growth in the cruise sector.”
The officials said that the majority of passengers came from the United States, constituting a significant 70 per cent of the total arrivals, followed by Canada with nine per cent and France with seven per cent.
They said other notable contributors include the United Kingdom with four per cent, Uruguay with three per cent and the rest of the world accounting for six per cent.
The tourism officials noted however that relatively smaller numbers were recorded from the Caribbean,
“The dominance of the United States in cruise passenger arrivals to Trinidad and Tobago is mostly due to our islands offering unique attractions and experiences that appeal to American tourists, such as our diverse cultural heritage, festivals, and natural beauty.
“Moreover, marketing efforts and strategic partnerships between cruise lines and local tourism authorities have enhanced the destination’s visibility and attractiveness to American travelers, resulting in the substantial influx of passengers from this market.”
The ministry said that similar to American travelers, Canadians are drawn to Trinidad and Tobago for its warm climate, cultural richness, and recreational activities.
“Proximity and promotional campaigns targeting the Canadian market have contributed to their notable representation among cruise passengers visiting the islands.
“Furthermore, the diversity in the origin of cruise passengers highlights the global appeal of Trinidad and Tobago as a cruise destination. Efforts to promote the destination internationally contributed to attracting passengers from various regions across the world,” the ministry added.
