The Tobago House of Assembly’s Division of Tourism, Culture, Antiquities and Transportation has issued an apology for the cruise tour cancellations which occurred last Saturday.
Approximately 300 paid tours had to be cancelled after maxi taxis failed to show up.
In a release last night, the Division said it is now reviewing its systems and aiming to improve service as the industry grows.
In preparation for Cruise Season 2023, the release explained the division held meetings with stakeholders to discuss and plan for the upcoming season. Stakeholders were informed of the schedule and the expected number of passengers for each call. This year, there has been an increase in both the number of cruise ship calls and the number of passengers visiting Tobago.
Secretary of the Division, Tashia Burris, apologised to the captain, Shore Excursion Manager, and Guest Services Director of the Celebrity Silhouette when she visited the port for the customary plaque exchange.
To cushion the inconvenience caused to passengers, the division prepared gift bags and sent a letter of apology before the ship departed Tobago.
She said, “We are taking steps to ensure that there will not be a repeat of such a situation. Although the THA is not responsible for providing transportation for the cruise ship tours, anything that could possibly cause damage to the destination will not be taken lightly and steps will be taken to mitigate against this in future.”
The division said it recognised the importance of tourism to Tobago’s economy and appreciates the contributions of all stakeholders. While the cancellations were unfortunate, they provide an opportunity for transport providers and other stakeholders to assess their systems and strive for better service in the future.