As a European who has lived for many years now in Trinidad with my Trini wife, I heartily agree with the sentiments of Chris Knaggs about tourism in this country. All Europeans have a very favourable view of the Caribbean as a whole, purely because of the climate. In the UK, weekend papers regularly run articles on holidays in this area but it seems they never publish anything about Trinidad. No doubt our tourist agency will tell us why.Chris is quite right, we have a beautiful island but do not appreciate what is needed to attract visitors.
I used to have English friends visit me but they never want to return. Why? Take a walk around Independence Square and you will see why. Vagrants lying on pavements and heaps of rubbish scattered around. Go into a bar for a beer and usually the toilets are filthy and inadequate.Beggars and con artists pester tourists on the pavements. I am often mistaken for a tourist and approached by such people.The countryside is beautiful but there are few, if any, attractions for tourists. No signposted country paths with information boards on the fauna and flora to be looked out for.
There is so much of interest for visitors and yet they are ignored for lack of information.A couple of years ago, we visited the Caroni Swamp to see the Scarlet Ibis we had heard so much about. What a shock. The boat looked as if it was 50 years old. No protection from the sun or rain. No proper reception area with the decent facilities tourists expect.The guide stood at the back of the boat with no loudhailer so those at the front could not hear the commentary. It started to rain so a large tarpaulin was passed hand to hand overhead. Just imagine the reaction of a tourist from the US or Europe used to air-conditioned tour boats having to hold up a tarpaulin for shelter.There were no facilities of any kind available until we went ashore.Until proper attention is given by our so-called tourist agency to the requirements of real tourists and, not Trinis returning to visit relatives, we will continue to lose millions of dollars in hard currencies.
Hugh Putt
Via e-mail