Tourism Trinidad Showcases Investment Opportunities at Landmark Forum
September 3rd, 2025
Tourism Trinidad Limited (TTL), in collaboration with the Trinidad and Tobago Chamber of Industry and Commerce, successfully hosted the Tourism Investment Forum under the theme “Unlocking our Tourism Investment Potential!” on Friday, August 22, 2025. The forum brought together more than 80 investors, hoteliers, financial institutions, policymakers, and industry stakeholders to spotlight Trinidad and Tobago as a distinctive and competitive destination for tourism investment.
In her opening remarks, the president of the T&T Chamber of Industry and Commerce, Ms Sonji Pierre-Chase, urged the audience to reimagine tourism as an authentic driver of growth. She pointed to Carnival as proof of Trinidad’s ability to transform culture and creativity into an international draw. “Carnival thrives because it is ours, rooted in culture, creativity, and community,” she said, noting that building a tourism model around authenticity, rather than imitation, is the way forward. She challenged stakeholders to harness the same spirit across ecotourism, sports, and events to create a differentiated, value-driven tourism product for Trinidad and Tobago.
Delivering the feature address, Senator the Honourable Satyakama Maharaj, Minister of Trade, Investment and Tourism, emphasised that government policy now places tourism on equal footing with trade and investment as a core pillar of economic growth. He outlined the Ministry’s commitment to advancing Trinidad and Tobago as a transatlantic hub, noting efforts to expand domestic connectivity between Trinidad and Tobago and open new airlift pathways from Asia, India, Africa, and the Americas. “The goal”, he stated, “is to position Trinidad as the epicentre of regional connectivity, opening a gateway for tourism in Trinidad and Tobago.”
Minister Maharaj also highlighted opportunities for product diversification, citing plans to develop medical tourism, sport tourism, and event tourism as priority niches. Building on the success of Carnival, he revealed the government’s ambition to establish an all-year Carnival City at the Queen’s Park Savannah, creating a permanent cultural attraction to sustain visitor interest throughout the year.
Closing his address, the Minister affirmed the government’s commitment to a more investor-friendly environment: “There must be no impediment to the ease of doing business in the Ministry of Trade, Investment and Tourism. Investors must feel confident that Trinidad and Tobago is open, ready, and serious about its tourism future.”
Mr Cornell Buckradee, Manager of Investment and Business Development at Tourism Trinidad, presented on the country’s competitive advantages and hotel development pipeline of projects. He also highlighted the robust suite of incentives available under the Tourism Development Act (TDA) 2000, including duty-free concessions, exemptions from corporation tax of up to seven (7) years, capital allowances and accelerated depreciation.
Investor testimonials from Mr. John Hadad, Co-CEO of the HADCO Group, Mr. Deepak Lall, Director – Qualitech Limited/Nirogee Development Limited, and Mr. Shaun Rampersad, Director – Ramps Logistics/ Nirogee Development Limited added practical insights into the opportunities for hotel development, underscoring both the viability and long-term returns of investing in the local tourism sector. HADCO has recently successfully executed major investments in the redevelopment of Asa Wright Nature Centre (AWNC) and the Mt. Plaisir Estate Hotel. Nirogee Development Limited is currently undertaking a complete redevelopment, refurbishment and re-positioning of the Maracas Bay Hotel.
As Trinidad and Tobago continues its thrust to diversify the economy and strengthen its tourism offerings, the Forum served as a pivotal platform to chart the course for sustainable, authentic, and investor-ready growth.
