THE islands of Trinidad & Tobago (T&T) are banking on sports to capture more visitors from the Indian market, but travel consultants here say there is still much to be done in air connectivity and brand awareness.
Its NTO this year roped in cricketers Kieron Pollard and Dwayne Dravo of West Indies Cricket Team as ambassadors to the India market, said Haseeb Mohammed, charged affairs, High Commission of Republic of Trinidad & Tobago – Delhi, who noted that Asian arrivals surge particularly around Carnival time from February to March.
Meanwhile, major markets to T&T are still North America, the UK, the Caribbean and Scandinavia.
Shibani Phadkar, senior vice president & head – leisure travel outbound, Thomas Cook India, said that “T&T is perhaps known as a cricketing nation” to the every man, but it compares “unfavourably” to US neighbours while connectivity is an issue.
Nagsri Prasad, head – outbound, Mercury Travels also pointed out that awareness generally remains low. “It is important that awareness (of T&T) is increased manifold and hence the tourism board needs to increase their marketing budgets in India. Besides, it’s important that we have good inbound travel consultants in T&T who can develop programmes suited to the clients and also be proactive and committed to the market.
To this end, Huzan Fraser, India rep, Tourism Trinidad & Tobago, revealed that T&T is “undertaking several online and offline programmes to educate trade in India”.
