Tobago Stakes Claim as Caribbean’s Best Kept Secret

At only 300 square kilometres, Tobago may be small in size, but it makes up for it with its punch – no pun intended.

The most southern tip of the Caribbean island chain, Tobago is quite literally, the “Caribbean’s Best Secret – Waiting to Be Told,” as per Tobago Tourism Agency’s latest marketing slogan. The tourism board was in Toronto Tuesday afternoon raising awareness in the Canadian market with a rooftop lunch – complete with the island’s signature rum punch.

Tobago remains one of the Caribbean’s hidden gems. Tobago is slow paced, free of mass tourism and as Andra Joefield, Marketing Officer, Tobago Tourism Agency North America, told TravelMarket Report Canada, “When you come to Tobago as a stranger, you’re guaranteed to leave as family.”

“Think about us as being laid back and relaxed. The two island state. Trinidad is hustle the bustle. Trinidad is about industrialization; conferences, meetings, but Tobago is a tourist island. Trinidad has tourism as well, but Tobago focuses more on tourism. That’s our way of life.”

The destination is easily accessible for Canadians via direct service from to Port of Spain on Caribbean Airlines or Air Canada, followed by a short 20-minute flight or ferry crossing to Tobago.

“I think there is something really romantic about crossing that runway as the sun’s coming up, and getting on those little prop planes and watching out the window as we land,” Ann Layton, President of Siren Communications who represents Tobago in Canada, said. “That’s travel in the old school way. I’ve done it so many times when the sun’s just rising and to me, it’s very beautiful.”

The island’s Main Ridge Forest Reserve, the oldest legally protected rainforest in the world, is celebrating its 250th anniversary this year and recognized by UNESCO as a biosphere reserve. There’s also the world-famous Nylon Pool – named by Princess Margaret who said the sand and waters were as silky as her nylons – that’s a shallow, crystal-clear lagoon in the middle of the sea, and is said to rejuvenate bathers “10 years younger.”

There’s also a full calendar of festivals that include Heritage Festival, Goat & Crab Races, the Blue Food Festival, and Tobago’s own distinctive Carnival in October. The Goat & Crab Races are exactly what you’re thinking and something that also shows the uniqueness and whimsical nature of the country.

“They are taken care of better than you and I,” Joefield says of the goats with a laugh. “They take them to the beach for the baths, and they go to the vet, and they are well taken care of.”

Accommodations lean toward independent, family-run hotels and villas; there are no big hotel brands on the island. A new airport is set to open soon (no firm date) offering more regional connections and serving up to 3 million annual passengers with 1,000/hour peak capacity. It will also feature nine gates with jet bridges, self serve check, VIP lounges and parking.

While many properties are booked direct, Tobago Tourism is working with its hotel association to strengthen trade connectivity and booking access for advisors. That’s part of the reason Tobago is in Canada – to build and strengthen those relationships with suppliers and advisors.

“Advisors are currently booking the properties direct, but we’re working with our hotel association to change that,” Joefield told us. “We will be at the ACTA event and have other opportunities to see how best we can make that linkage. Advisors will also have upcoming opportunities with FAM trips and educational seminars.

We pride ourselves at the Tobago tourism agency on four major pillars, the beautiful orange I’m wearing today, our people, culture and heritage. We have so much to do in Tobago, for that small, little island, all the way down the southern end of the Caribbean.”