Every year, World Tourism Day is celebrated on September 27 to bring global awareness of tourism’s social, cultural, political and economic value. This year, the theme was “Tourism and Jobs: A Better Future for All”and on Thursday September 26, 2019, the Tourism, Hospitality and Sport Unit (THSU) of UWI St Augustine’s Department of Management Studies (DMS) celebrated World Tourism Day by hosting an award ceremony to honour 20 key stakeholder organisations, spanning more than 10 sectors, for their longstanding contribution to the development of the hospitality and tourism industry in Trinidad and Tobago.
The following organisations were honoured:
ACCOMMODATION AND RESTAURANT SECTORS: Trinidad Hotels and Restaurant Association (THRTA), Tobago Hotel and Tourism Association, Small Tourism Accommodation Owners of Trinidad and Tobago (STAOTT), Tobago Unique Bed and Breakfast and Self Catering Association, (TUBBSCA).
TRAVEL TRADE SECTOR: Trinidad and Tobago Incoming Tour Operators Association (TTITOA)
ADVENTURE TOURISM SECTOR: Tobago Hospitality and Tour Operators Association, Trinidad and Tobago Tour Guides Association (TTTGA), Tobago Certified Tour Guides Association, Association of Tobago Dive Operators
TRANSPORT SECTOR: Trinidad and Tobago Tourist Transport Service Association (TTTTSA), Tobago Port Taxi and Maxi Drivers Federation of Association, Caribbean Airlines, Yacht Services Association of Trinidad and Tobago (YSATT)
TOURISM RESEARCH AND EDUCATION SECTORS: The UWI – Department of Management Studies, Trinidad and Tobago Hospitality and Tourism Institute (TTHTI), Tobago Hospitality and Tourism Institute (THTI)
EVENTS AND TOURISM SERVICES SECTORS: Caribbean Tourism Publishers, MEP Publishers
ATTRACTIONS AND PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT SECTORS: National Trust of Trinidad and Tobago, T&T Crafts and Arts Producers Association
This ceremony also afforded the THSU an opportunity to highlight the diversity of jobs available in the sector by showcasing nine of its past graduates, many of whom are now entrepreneurs and making a significant impact in the industry:
Kimberly King (King and Associates), Deborah Stewart (Pepe Events), Jason Radix (Eureka Natural History Tours), Shinelle Smith (The Travel Taxi), Arielle Du Quesnay (RoamTT), Renee Deane-Gangapersad (Airports Authority), Tenisha Brown-Williams (ShareHome Caribbean), Brendon Brathwaite (BUZZ Concepts) and Ain Earle (The Fashion Arch).
Tourism accounts for about one in 10 jobs globally and in Trinidad and Tobago, tens of thousands of nationals are directly and indirectly employed by the industry. All stakeholders agreed that they needed to continue to work together to create more awareness of the positive impact that tourism can have on Trinidad and Tobago’s economy. The THSU is committed to playing its part in advancing tourism education and research to support the future growth of the tourism industry.
Special thanks to our sponsors: Faculty of Social Sciences, Angostura Limited, Tourism Trinidad Limited, HADCO, AMCO and the Institute of Service Quality Management (ISQM).
