Tobago Correspondent
Tobago Hotel and Tourism Association president Reginald MacLean said the latest state of emergency (SoE) has come at the worst time for the island.
In an interview with Guardian Media yesterday, MacLean said the current winter season is critical for regional hoteliers, and he anticipated subsequent travel advisories would disrupt the flow of arrivals from the US and Europe.
Hoteliers had recently complained over the lack of supplies on the island owing to “inconsistent” sailings of the MV Blue Wave Harmony cargo boat. With that problem now rectified, they are wary of how the SoE could affect business.
“Prior to the last SoE being stopped, we were seeing some positive actions in tourism. People were realising, yes, we have an SoE, but they were coming to Tobago—not in the numbers they should be coming, but we saw a little bit of an increase.
“Now this SoE has been called, it has come at a really bad time because it is the middle of the winter season,” MacLean said.
“You are getting people talking about getting cancellations already. We are now waiting on the United States, the United Kingdom and other countries putting out travel advisories again, and that is where it is going to affect us. The SoE is not a good thing for tourism.”
MacLean said the government needs to look at alternative ways to fight the crime problem.
MacLean said he was satisfied with the reduction in violent crime, particularly murders, in the last couple years.
He said that although crime in Tobago is minimal compared to Trinidad, because it is one country, there will be a stigma attached.
At Store Bay Beach Facility yesterday, tourists from Europe were oblivious to the SoE and simply enjoying the sun, sea and sand.
A visitor from the UK said he did not hear any travel advisories as yet.
“I have not heard anything like that about Tobago until you told me there is a state of emergency here. Now I’m panicked - with a capital P.”
Another visitor from the UK said she too was unaware of the SoE.
“It’s not something we were told in the UK. We came here to see the nature and we heard the people are friendly.”
She said her stay has been awesome so far, and she hopes to return sometime.
A German visitor, John, was calm and enjoying his vacation.
He said, “There is no sort of reason to panic or tell anyone not to come here. From the outside looking in, there doesn’t seem to be a problem. I’ll come back, 100 per cent.”
At a post-Executive Council media briefing yesterday, Deputy Chief Secretary Dr Faith Brebnor said the island remains open for business.
She insisted the island is safe and the SoE is unlikely to cause any disruption.
“We continue to function, we continue to behave and act as if we are going about our business normally,” she said.
