Trinidad Tourism begins to prepare for T&T border re-opening

Trinidad’s tourism stakeholders are one step closer to safely re-opening the sector to international travellers.

Tourism Trinidad Limited (TTL), in collaboration with the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA), hosted a webinar called Train the Trainer: COVID-19 Health Guidelines for Reopening the Tourism Sector & the Tourism Health Information System on 14th October. Over 200 tourism stakeholders took part. Designed for a wide range of tourism stakeholders, this programme provided crucial training and a comprehensive understanding of the COVID-19 pandemic as well as protection and safety measures.

One of the key messages from the virtual training was that tourism stakeholders must deliver simple, easy, healthy, and safe experiences for all visitors to Destination Trinidad as we navigate through the coronavirus pandemic. Tourism practitioners were briefed regarding best practices to be implemented to restore the confidence of the travellers through regional safety and security protocols, designed to reduce risks in each step of the tourism value chain. These protocols include the implementation of check procedures where appropriate, including temperature scans, testing, physical distancing, enhanced frequency of cleaning and the provision of hygiene kits for safe air travel, hospitality services, and safe events.

According to the Chief Executive Officer of Tourism Trinidad (Acting) Mrs Heidi Alert: “This training was essential for the industry to emerge stronger and more sustainably from COVID-19. At this time, we must act decisively to restore travel confidence in a safe and responsible manner. It sends a clear message that we care deeply about the health and safety of both our citizens and visitors.

“The CARPHA training complements the wider tourism resilience training that we have engaged COSTATT to deliver to transport operators, tourist attractions, hotels, tour operators, and food and beverage facilities to prepare for when the time becomes appropriate to re-open borders and once again welcome visitors. This re-tooling of the tourism sector will give Destination Trinidad an edge in its marketing activities.

“We are also thrilled to be working more closely with CARPHA, the leading regional public health response to COVID-19, to roll out to the industry the online Tourism Health Information System (THiS) that will make successful tourism organisations eligible to receive the Caribbean Travel Health Assurance (CTHA) Stamp, adding further assurance to travellers about their commitment to their health safety.

“The advantage of this Stamp is that it provides measurable and verifiable recognition that tourism businesses are implementing the recommended proactive COVID-19 health monitoring and safety measures and is, therefore, an excellent marketing tool.”

Established in 2011 by the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Member States, the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) is the recognised single regional public health agency for the Caribbean. The main objective of CARPHA is to strengthen and reorient the Caribbean’s health system approach so that our island states are better equipped to address the rapidly changing nature of public health challenges.

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