Tourism Trinidad Limited and Destination Trinidad is extremely thrilled to be at this year’s World Travel Market after an absence of three years.  The company is responsible for marketing, promoting and developing the island of Trinidad as a tourist attraction and works collaboratively with the Tobago Tourism Agency Limited in promoting Trinidad and Tobago as the ideal vacation destination.  During our ‘global down time’ we embarked an aggressive path of developing our tourism infrastructure and developing our product, making for an enriching visitor experience.

ABOUT DESTINATION TRINIDAD

Trinidad is a multicultural island with a colourful history and is also rich in biodiversity.

Our history has lent itself to a plethora of festivals and events that pay homage to our African, East Indian, Spanish, French, Chinese and Syrian heritage, just to name a few.

Trinidad is also one of the best destinations for birdwatching and ecotourism.  Visit the Caroni Bird Sanctuary on evenings as the spectacular flaming Scarlet Ibis (our national bird) comes to rest. The Sanctuary, spanning approximately twenty (20) square miles, is one of the most fascinating mangrove wetlands in the Western Hemisphere as it teems with diverse wildlife.

This natural site is a protected wetland of global importance, which has three (3) varieties of mangrove – red, black, and white mangrove. See the Fiddler crabs on the mudflats, the occasional Caiman on the embankments, the silky Anteater and the more than 190 avian species that inhabit the swamp.

The most beautiful sight occurs at evenings when hundreds of Scarlet Ibis, come home to roost. The flaming “red” scarlet birds against the evenings blue sky are a spectacular sight and not to be missed.

scarlet ibis in Trinidad

Scarlet ibis / Photo Credit: Stephen Broadbridge

African Culture in Trinidad (1)

Drummers of Wasafoli Performing Company performing at the production 'Suumba'

Caroni Swamp 2

Caroni swamp

BRAND ‘visitTrinidad’ – ALWAYS IN SEASON

This year we are pleased to encourage all to ‘visitTrinidad’!

Trinidad has so much to see and do and is filled with exciting sites, attractions and events that can be experienced all year round.  Our calendar of events will soon be released and will be filled with festivals and celebrations happening throughout the year.

That’s why we say ‘Visit Trinidad….because we are ALWAYS in Season!’

NEW DEVELOPMENTS

Trinidad is definitely open for business and has seen a steady increase visitor arrivals.  Tourism Trinidad Limited has embarked on a series of initiatives that have greatly improved the attractiveness of the island of Trinidad making our beautiful island one that is ‘Always in Season’.

AIRLIFT AND ROUTE DEVELOPMENT

Our route development strategy is bearing fruit with announcements last month of the extension of KLM’s service of out of Amsterdam’s Schipol Airport hub into March 2023 and we look forward to its continuation even beyond this and of course British Airways’ direct service 3 times per week on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays beginning March 26, 2023.

KLM Royal Dutch Airlines - Inaugural Flight to Port of Spain Trinidad 8

KLM’s inaugural flight to Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago

NEW HOTELS

We have added and will be adding several branded hotel properties to our room stock:

  • The one hundred and sixty room The Brix by Marriott was opened in February of this year.
  • Seventy Nine room Radisson Blu that is 90% complete and will be opened second quarter of 2023.
  • There is also the 40 room Maracas Bay Hotel which will undergo a major redevelopment we expect to turn the sod in January 2023. This hotel is located on the extremely popular Maracas Beach in Trinidad
  • We also have the horizon for the end of 2024, 154 room Four Points by Sheraton at the Aviation Park just on the outskirts of Trinidad’s International Airport.
  • And of course, there is excited anticipation for the reopening of the Asa Wright Nature Centre in 2023.
Pool in the Evening at The BRIX Autograph Collection - Hotel in Port of Spain, Trinidad
Bedroom Suite at The BRIX Autograph Collection - Hotel in Port of Spain, Trinidad
Sugar High Rooftop Bar at The BRIX Autograph Collection - Hotel in Port of Spain, Trinidad

The BRIX by Marriott / Photo Credit: The BRIX by Marriott

ECOTOURISM

Trinidad and Tobago was just announced by National Geographic as one of the top 35 ‘Best of the World’ destinations for 2023 naming Grande Riviere beach on Trinidad’s north coast the densest leatherback nesting grounds in the world.  During the leatherback turtle’s nesting season from March to August an estimated 6,000 to 10,000 turtles come on shore.

In addition, discover Trinidad’s unique biodiversity including 433 species of birds, over 600 species of butterflies and 2300 types of beautiful, flowering shrubs and plants.  There is also the Tamana Bat Caves in Trinidad’s Central Mountain Range that is home to 3 million bats.

Leatherback Turtle at Blanchisseuse in Trinidad

Leatherback turtle / Photo Credit: Adrian Bernard

White Necked Jacobin Hummingbird (1)

White Necked Jacobin Hummingbird / Photo Credit: Nadia Sanowar

Gasparee Caves in Chaguaramas Trinidad - Things to Do in Trinidad - Copyright Tevin Mills

Gasparee Caves / Photo Credit: Tevin Mills

SPORT TOURISM DEVELOPMENT

Trinidad is fast becoming the top destination in the Caribbean for Sport Tourism.  The island has several world class sporting facilities such as the National Racquet Centre, National Aquatic Centre, National Cycling Academy and of course the Brian Lara Stadium where international cricket tournaments such as the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) are hosted.  Our island’s infrastructure can accommodate large scale sporting events which is why we can host not only CPL but also we will host the Commonwealth Youth Championships from Sun, 1 Aug 2021 – Fri, 11 Aug 2023 and Pan Am Games in July 2024.

Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Trinidad

Brian Lara Cricket Academy

National Aquatic Centre - Sport Facilities in Trinidad

National Aquatic Centre

Ato Boldon Stadium - Football in Trinidad - Sports in Trinidad

Ato Boldon Stadium

CARNIVAL AND ITS BEGINNINGS – OUR STORY

On Saturday 5th November, Trinidad launched the ‘Mother of All Carnivals’.  In 2023, Carnival will be on February 21st and 22nd and it is a year when we will be telling our Carnival story and its beginnings.  What many don’t know is that Trinidad and Tobago’s Carnival has birth many Carnivals all over the world including the very popular Nottinghill Carnival.

However, our Carnival has a story that has deep ancestral roots.  These roots would have given us artforms such as calypso, soca music and steelpan music.  So while Carnival is a symbol of our past struggles and our creativity it is this create expression that birth many Carnivals all over the world including Carnivals in the Caribbean, Caribana in Toronto, Labour Day in New York and of course Nottinghill Carnival.

Next year we expect a bumper Carnival with extremely encouraging bookings that so far are estimated to far surpass Carnival 2019 visitor arrivals.

Sunset WKN The Launch - Band Launch - Trinidad and Tobago Carnival 2023 - Visit Trinidad - Carnival Costumes (2)-min (1)

TRIBE family of bands, band launch for Trinidad and Tobago Carnival 2023

Moko Jumbie - Traditional Carnival Characters - Trinidad and Tobago Carnival

Moko Jumbie

Steelpan the National Instrument of Trinidad and Tobago (1)

Steelpan, Trinidad and Tobago's National instrument

FESTIVAL DEVELOPMENT

Trinidad and Tobago is a melting pot of cultures that feeds into a number of national festivals such as Emancipation Day, Divali, Spiritual Shouter Baptist Day and of course Carnival. These festivals punctuate our national calendar

After Carnival and further into 2023 we will be developing a Food, Rum and Chocolate Festival, Jazz Events and several Cultural Festivals including our unique Trinidad Christmas celebration.  All of these celebrations highlight our island’s diverse culture.

THE CULINARY CAPITAL OF THE WORLD

You can also look forward to a greater emphasis on Community and particularly Culinary Tourism and immersive cultural experiences.  We have done extensive work with small villages like Paramin known for their natural herbs and spices.  One can easily spend an entire day in this small, tight knit community and sample dishes that showcase the foods that are grown in Paramin and visitors can enjoy in Paramin.

More than that, Trinidad is the culinary capital of the world.  According to international culinary vlogger Mark Wiens who recently visited Trinidad, ‘the best way to experience Trinidad is to eat your way through Trinidad’.

Mark Wiens in Trinidad with Foodie Tales with Zaak enjoying food at Aunty Doll's in Fyzabad
Mark Wiens with Baidawi of Eatahfood and David from D Market Movers, eating Callaloo in Trinidad and Tobago
Mark Wiens with Aunty Julia in Paramin, Trinidad and Tobago

Mark Wiens experiences Trinidad's unique culinary offering

FINALLY

‘Always in Season’ means anytime you visit Trinidad there is always something to do.

Are you into immersive cultural experiences?

Are you into excellent nightlife and ‘liming’?

Are you interested in natural, rare wonders like our eighth wonder of the world, the La Brea Pitch Lake?

Can you imagine taking a healing, soothing bath in one of our infamous volcanic mud pools?

Or viewing the prehistoric Leatherback Turtles nesting on our shores?

What about tasting your way through Trinidad and our amazing cuisine

Finally, experience the Mother of All Carnivals, the Carnival that started them all!

Visit Trinidad!