T.H.T.A Forum Highlights Tourism as “The Fuel of the Future” for Trinidad and Tobago
July 30th, 2025
Scarborough, Tobago – The Tobago Hotel and Tourism Association (THTA) successfully hosted its inaugural Tourism Forum on Thursday 24th July 2025 at the Magdalena Grand Beach and Golf Resort under the theme “Tourism – The Fuel of the Future: A Spotlight on the Critical Role of Tourism in the Future of Trinidad and Tobago’s Economy.” The forum served as a landmark initiative to bring together key voices from the public and private sectors to address the current state of tourism, identify challenges, and forge a path toward revitalizing the industry as a national economic driver.
The Opening Ceremony featured remarks from THTA President Mr. Reginald Mac Lean and 1st Vice President Mr. Rene Seepersadsingh, who both emphasized the importance of unified stakeholder engagement and urgent policy direction. Government participation was significant, with addresses delivered by Councillor Tashia Burris, Secretary of Tourism, Culture, Antiquities and Transportation, Tobago House of Assembly; Ms. Michelle Ann Thomas, Acting Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Tourism; and The Hon. Farley Chavez Augustine, Chief Secretary of the Tobago House of Assembly, who delivered the feature address. All reaffirmed their commitment to working with industry stakeholders to reposition tourism at the forefront of national development.
In the first keynote session, renowned economist Professor Roger Hosein presented “A Time-to-Choose Moment”, outlining the urgent policy decisions required to revive the sector. This was followed by international tourism expert Dr. James “Jim” Hepple, who shared a regional and global perspective in his presentation “Tourism is the Solution,” focusing on tourism’s contribution to post-pandemic recovery and global economic growth. Each keynote concluded with an engaging Q&A session, moderated by Mr. Alpha Lorde and Mr. Rene Seepersadsingh respectively.
Session two, sponsored by Shazim Ali Property Developers, focused on unlocking investment and marketing opportunities. The first panel discussion, moderated by Mr. Cliff Hamilton, featured Mr. Cornell Buckradee (Tourism Trinidad Ltd), Mr. Navin Dookeran (CEO of EXIM Bank/TTDBL), and Dr. Anselm Richards (Division of Finance, THA), and explored topics such as fiscal incentives, public-private partnerships, and access to funding for tourism projects. This was followed by a spotlight presentation on destination marketing and crisis communication by Ms. Laura Dowrich and Ms. Bonnie Borkin, who offered practical insights on branding, digital engagement, and managing public relations in the tourism sector.
In the final session, Dr. Michael Scantlebury, Associate Professor and Tourism Policy Advisor at Grand Valley State University, delivered a presentation titled “Planning for the Unplanned,” which addressed the need for resilience in the face of natural, political, and economic disruptions. The forum concluded with a powerful call-to-action fireside chat, moderated by Mr. Rene Seepersadsingh, featuring Councillor Tashia Burris, Mr. Reginald Maclean, Mr. Cliff Hamilton, and Mr. Alpha Lorde. The discussion emphasized the importance of policy alignment, destination management, and stakeholder collaboration in building a sustainable tourism future.
The THTA extends its sincere gratitude to the sponsors who made the event possible: AJ Mauritzen & Company Ltd, Arnos Vale Estate, Hadco Experiences, Shazim Ali Property Developers, and Amplia Business. Appreciation is also extended to the Tobago Hospitality and Tourism Institute (THTI) student ushers, the staff of Magdalena Grand, and THTA Directors for their coordination and support.
The 2025 Tourism Forum stands as a pivotal moment for the tourism industry in Trinidad and Tobago, signaling renewed momentum and collective resolve to place tourism at the heart of economic growth and national development. For more information, please contact the Tobago Hotel and Tourism Association at (868) 639-9543 or email [email protected] Visit us online at www.yourtobago.com .
