The political leader of the People’s National Movement (PNM) Tobago Council and chief secretary of the Tobago House of Assembly (THA) Kelvin Charles says the use of the Beyond Ordinary tagline for Destination Tobago has been vindicated as the slogan is shortlisted for an international and tourism and travel award.
Speaking to a group of PNM supporters at a cottage meeting at Bethesda on Tuesday night, Charles said, “The brand that they want to kill we for” is ranked among the best.
“The second half of the shortlist for the International Travel And Tourism Awards 2019 has been announced ...Tobago Beyond is shortlisted for the Best National Tourism Brand Campaign and the Best Destination Campaign Country Category,” he added.
In December 2018, the Tobago Tourism Agency Limited (TTAL) was highly criticised, after unveiling destination Tobago’s new tagline ‘Tobago, Go Beyond Ordinary’.
It resembled one being used by Anguilla’s Tourist Board’s tagline: ‘It’s Beyond Extraordinary”.
Speaking further about Tobago’s tourism sector, Charles said the THA is holding discussions with investors interested in constructing a hotel on the island. He was unwilling to provide specifics.
“I prefer not to give too many details because of goat mouth, because some people would lambaste it like in the case of Sandals and create a lot of negative energies with all kinds of unintended consequences,” Charles told the gathering.
He said the project “look good” and if talks continued, phase one of the project will begin in the latter half of 2020 and phase two soon after.
Meanwhile, Tobago West’s PNM representative Shamfa Cudjoe, who spoke at the event, asked party supporters to make use of opportunities available in Tobago.
“What will you transmit for your children five years from now?” the Minister of Sport asked, quoting from a speech given by the late prime minister Dr Eric Williams when this country gained independence in 1962.
Cudjoe, of Bethel, said youths were asking for jobs but refused to show up for sessions on writing resumes or small business entrepreneurship.