If tourism is important to T&T and Government, it needs to be “put back into a cocoon of redevelopment” directly under the Prime Minister, advises CEO of the Trinidad Hotels, Restaurant and Tourism Association (THRTA) Brian Frontin.
Speaking today on CNC3's The Morning Brew, Frontin said he believes with the firing of the CEO of Tourism Trinidad Limited amille Campbell by chairman of the company Janelle Penny Commissiong T&T will lose out on growth and development this year. He said over the last 15 years there has been no evidence that tourism has contributed to the country’s economic growth.
Frontin said the sector lacks stability as during that period there have been more ten ministers of tourism, ten chairpersons of the tourism board and 15 CEOs.
“This is a systemic issue that the public sector governance structures for tourism in this country shows is deeply flawed. There is a history and pattern of failure,” he said.
“I can say for sure that we have lost 2019 and we will see further reductions in international arrivals as it is evident that we lack actual tourism development activity and zero forward movements.”
Frontin said Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley needs to take ownership of the Tourism Ministry and adopt a new model under the Office of the Prime Minister.
"The Prime Minister will ensure that the right technocrats are in place. It could be a director of tourism model and there could be a stakeholder council because the current structure of the ministry, state board and management are constantly in conflict,” he said.
Campbell was fired on July 1, six months after being appointed CEO of Tourism Trinidad, the company formed to replace to defunct Tourism Development Corporation (TDC).