Tobago to get direct flights from Toronto, Miami, Guyana

Tobago Correspondent

The new ANR Robinson International Airport is expected to get some additional traffic from next month with direct flights from new source markets.

Tobago House of Assembly (THA) Chief Secretary Farley Augustine announced the development yesterday during a post-Budget media conference at the Assembly Legislature, Scarborough.

During the $4.12 billion budget presentation, Finance Secretary Petal-Ann Robert is identified tourism as a crucial cog in Tobago’s economic thrust.

With the impending opening of the new airport terminal building, stakeholders had been clamouring for authorities to attract more visitors to the island.

Augustine said the THA is finally getting movement after extensive conversations with Caribbean Airlines (CAL) and other carriers.

“We are pushing for those direct flights to begin from as early as towards the end of next month,” Augustine said, adding that Minister of Civil Aviation and Transportation Eli Zakour will announce the exact flight day after arrangements are finalised.

He added, “Where we are at is direct flights are coming from Toronto to Tobago, so that should be onboarded soon. We are also looking at Ogle in Guyana to Tobago. We are also looking at Miami direct to Tobago.”

Augustine said these direct flights will all be aboard CAL flights, while the THA is in advanced negotiations with other airlines pertaining to direct flights from other North American destinations.

“We are opening Tobago to the North American market and one new destination in the Caribbean. Those conversations are advanced, the funding for the marketing of those flights have already been released to Tobago Tourism Agency Limited since the month of May,” he said.

While excited about the development, Augustine lamented that Tobago’s accommodation sector remains unprepared.

“The quality of the accommodation has been a longstanding issue, and if we are to be competitive, then we must be honest that Tobago does not possess any four- or five-star resort.”

He said customer service must not be found lacking as well, saying a training programme is ongoing for those in the tourism sector.

Contacted yesterday following the announcement, head of the Tobago Chamber of Industry and Commerce Curtis Williams said he was excited about the direct flights.

However, he too expressed concern about the quality of rooms available, urging immediate upgrades in the interim.

“There is no room to put these people when they do come,” he said.