Tourism Minister Shamfa Cudjoe has taken issue with advertising campaigns in some Caribbean destinations which capitalise on the presence of the Zika virus in neighbouring territories to boost visitor arrival numbers.
In an interview with the T&T Guardian at the 43rd annual Caribbean Week New York hosted by the Caribbean Tourism Organisation (CTO) at the Marriott Marquis Hotel, Manhattan, the minister described the Zika-free ads as unproductive. She said tourism officials across the islands agreed to be competitive but not adversarial in their respective campaigns.
"Some countries jump up and say we are Zika-free. When you do that you name and shame some other countries that may have an issue. For instance Trinidad had some Zika cases, but Tobago hasn't reported any. What can we learn from it? The Bahamas hasn't reported any as yet. What can we learn from the Bahamas? It's not about saying the Bahamas is better because they haven't had a Zika case.
"Even as we all offer sand, sea and sun there is something that is unique about each Caribbean destination. It is about finding what you are good at. So let's not focus too much on trying to pull bread off each other's table, but look at what we are good at and develop it.
"At the end of the day it's one Caribbean. We come here, we share ideas, and we interact. It's not about growing as an island destination, but growing together. We can compete, but we can compete in a way that is mutually beneficial," she said.
Cudjoe said regional leaders at the CTO event focused on the Zika threat, its impact on the region and the future of the industry.She said priority was given to educating the public on steps to prevent the spread of the virus.
It was Cudjoe's second CTO meeting since being named Tourism Minister and following numerous video conferences with her colleagues, she said the CTO environment helped her to grow faster in developing policies for T&T.
"For T&T, I think CTO is critical. We play a leading role in Caricom and as tourism continues to move to the for, as it relates to economic diversification and expansion of economic opportunities for T&T, this kind of forum provides opportunities for us to showcase what is happening in T&T.
"The US is the largest market for Trinidad in particular. Over 50 per cent of our arrivals come from the US market. That is where the majority of the diaspora is, so they feed into our culture or products and the different things that we have to offer.
"This is quite an enlightening and important opportunity and platform for us as tourism stakeholders and I look forward to all that comes out of these initiatives and these meetings," she said.
Cudjoe said while there are economic downturns in different parts of the world, the travel and tourism industry continues to grow.
"Inter-Caribbean travel last year and the year before had been very, very positive and people continue to have that insatiable appetite for travel. I think that once the products are up to standard, once the right marketing is done, people are going to continue to travel.
"The statistics have shown that people continue to travel and enjoy tourism. I see it as a great industry not just for T&T or the region, but for the entire world.
"Last year, the World Travel and Tourism Council would have forecasted that tourism travel would be four per cent.
"In this region we have gone up to six per cent. The numbers continue to look good for the Caribbean region," the minister said.