The Tourism Development Company is expanding its Accommodation Upgrade Project to include bed and breakfast and self-catering facilities with one to five rooms. Donna Ferraz, permanent secretary in the Ministry of Tourism, told stakeholders the initiative, which was launched at the Normandie Hotel, St Ann's yesterday, is backed by a suite of incentives,
Originally launched as the Hotel and Guesthouse Room Stock Incentive Project back in February 2010, the project catered only for small and medium sized properties of eight to 100 rooms, supporting their upgrade to first class facilities. A Cabinet decision in July 2014 approved its expansion to cover smaller properties from one to 150 rooms with consideration for improving the aesthetics of public spaces as well.
Speaking on behalf of Tourism Minister Gerald Hadeed, Ferraz said Government is committed to development of a responsible, sustainable and competitive tourism industry for the social and economic transformation of T&T.
She said properties with one to five guestrooms will have access to a 20 per cent reimbursement grant, determined as a proportion of the cost of refurbishment and upgrade for improvement work to the interior or exterior of the property up to $75,000. Properties with six to 150 guestrooms will have access to 25 per cent reimbursement granted as a proportion of the cost of reimbursement for upgrade work inside and outside the property up to $750,000.
"The economic environment, as it is presently, offers the tourism industry the opportunity to showcase the importance of tourism in propelling the country's growth and the potential to earn foreign exchange. T&T has worthy and unique assets to exhibit to the regional and international visitor and we are indeed excellent ambassadors for our country," Ferraz said.
"The facility will now include access to incentives for improving other areas of tourism accommodation properties with the room capacity of six to 150 rooms, other than the guest bedrooms, including the lobby, restaurant and pool. Additionally, small tourism properties, including bed and breakfast and self-catering facilities with one to five rooms are now beneficiaries of the programme. The Government is offering the seed and we have to work together for a beautiful harvest."
She said the project underscored the prospects for public and private sector partnerships in moving the industry forward by improving the level of customer satisfaction, as well as diversifying the country's revenue stream."The project will also serve to enhance the country's product positioning and competitiveness in the regional and international marketplace. I commend your efforts toward improving your properties to in turn encourage returning clientele and attract new visitors," Ferraz said.