Tourism Trinidad Receives COSTAATT Partnership Award for Excellence in Tourism Collaboration

December 17th, 2024

Tourism Trinidad Limited (TTL) proudly announces its receipt of the prestigious COSTAATT Partnership Award on November 30, 2024, at their 2024 graduation ceremony. This esteemed recognition celebrates the dynamic and impactful collaboration between TTL and the College of Science, Technology, and Applied Arts of Trinidad and Tobago (COSTAATT). TTL’s interim CEO, Cornell Buckradee accepted the award from the President of COSTAATT, Dr Nurse. 

Since the partnership’s inception in 2020, which was formalised with a Memorandum of Understanding in 2023, TTL and COSTAATT have made significant strides in transforming the tourism landscape in Trinidad and Tobago. This collaboration exemplifies innovation, education, and community empowerment. 

Key achievements of this partnership include: 

• Empowering Journalism Students Through Storytelling: TTL hosted a dedicated tourism media workshop for COSTAATT’s journalism students, focusing on the art of storytelling in the context of travel and tourism. Students explored innovative techniques to capture the essence of Trinidad’s rich culture, natural beauty, and vibrant communities, equipping them with skills to tell compelling stories that resonate with diverse audiences. 
• Engaging Language Students in Real-World Experiences: COSTAATT’s language students played a vital role during the 2023/2024 cruise season, providing translation services for international visitors. This initiative not only enhanced the cruise experience for guests but also gave students practical, industry-relevant experience. 
• Training Over 500 Tourism Practitioners: Through collaborative workshops, tourism professionals were equipped with essential safety and sanitation knowledge, ensuring that Trinidad and Tobago remains a safe and welcoming destination for visitors. 
• Developing Rural Communities: Sixty rural tour guides were trained, empowering local communities to participate actively in the tourism economy. 
• Innovative Course Development: Together, TTL and COSTAATT introduced groundbreaking courses, such as Tour Design and Costing and AI in Tour Guiding, preparing future tourism leaders with the skills to adapt to a rapidly evolving industry. 

Reflecting on this milestone, CEO Cornell Buckradee noted, “Tourism Trinidad is proud to have solidified a robust partnership with COSTAATT in the area of capacity building and training, equipping our stakeholders with the skills and tools necessary to excel in the global marketplace.” He further added, “This award is not just recognition of past successes but a key motivation to continue strengthening ties that contribute to the sustainable growth of our tourism industry and national development.” 

Tourism Trinidad remains steadfast in its commitment to creating meaningful partnerships that drive innovation, sustainability, and inclusive growth in the tourism sector.