The annual number of visitors to Trinidad and Tobago is set to increase by eight percent in 2005. In real terms, this means that the number of arrivals for leisure, events and conference tourism will be pushing towards the half million mark by the end of the year.

This is an impressive achievement which, coupled with World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) forecasts of a 5.2 percent sector growth per annum over 2006 to 2015, establishes Trinidad and Tobago as the second fastest growing travel and tourism economy in the Caribbean.

A large delegation of Trinidad and Tobago tourism representatives, hoteliers and attraction owners led by Tourism Minister Howard Chin Lee and new Director of Tourism, James Hepple, will be at World Travel Market in London this month to discuss the new developments taking place on the islands.

A combination of factors is contributing to the islands' growth, key among which is the work being done to maintain and improve international competitiveness.

The strategic thrust of this work includes the upgrading of the existing room stock on the islands to international standards, and the establishment of a sound base of new rooms, led by the five-star end of the market. It also includes the positioning Port-of-Spain as the meetings and convention capital of the Southern Caribbean and the business centre of the sub-region.

In addition, there are plans to improve selected sites and attractions and develop various facets of the ‘‘product;'' increase the airlift service to both islands, as well as enhancing industry standards and quality service through human resource development and industry training.

Ongoing strategy also includes raising awareness of the economic and social benefits of travel and tourism among the population, providing a one-stop-shop to reduce bureaucracy, streamlining the process for travel and tourism, and developing an identifiable Trinidad and Tobago brand to raise the country's profile worldwide. The Trinidad and Tobago Tourism Development Company Ltd is mandated to develop and promote the islands' tourism product.

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