TOURISM Our diamond in the rough

I have often been asked what would you have done differently?  What steps you would take that are different from what other governments have attempted?  Today I would deal with tourism. 

One of the first things that I would do is fix the infrastructure.  With immediate effect I would enter contracts with the appropriate organizations to:

• Repair and restore the last two hanging bridges in Blanchisseuse and Moruga.  They can still be saved.
•  I will take the appropriate engineering steps with the support of the US Embassy to restore and preserve as a major historical site, the Satellite dish and support buildings in Chaguaramas.
• I will hire visionary architects to permanently put in place appropriate buildings that can withstand the weather conditions in Maracas, complete with appropriate support systems for food vendors, structured chair and umbrella rentals, modern toilet facilities and changing rooms and beach security along with lifeguards.
• I will invest heavily in making the Gasparee caves a world class facility, complete with mechanical vehicles and tracks for tours as well as a safe path for pedestrian tours.  I will include in the infrastructure restaurant facilities complete with gift shops.  I will include in the tour, the guns at the top of the island.

• I will immediately save and restore what is left of the St Chad church and associated cemetery, the golf course, the many trails, and the Maqueripe beach in Chaguaramas.  I will ensure that there is either a rail service or another vehicle path to the peninsula.
• I will construct with immediate effect safe pedestrian paths to the top of El Tucuche and Cerro Aripo our highest mountains with proper viewing areas at the top and ensure that the entire hiking experienced is supervised by Park Rangers.
•  trails, the rivers, and waterfalls which will be outfitted with appropriate toilet facilities and garbage disposal systems.  These rangers will also work to minimize bush fires and illegal logging and quarrying.
•  I will ensure that each beach has appropriate parking facilities, toilet facilities, and security. 
• I will ensure that the carnival experience is augmented with temporary toilet facilities along the parade routes and take appropriate steps to prevent the painting of residential walls.
•  I would invest in making Tobago the premium vacation location of the Caribbean.
• I would make the boats of the Caroni & Nariva Swamps environmentally friendly and upgrade the facility to include a restaurant complete with modern toilet facilities and a gift shop.
• I would transform Chacachacare to be a cruise ship venue on the eastern side of the island complete with casino and hotels and a bunkering hub on the western side.

After competing the infrastructure upgrade and development, I would aggressively market Trinidad & Tobago internationally and consequently ensure that the country is among the best tourist venues in the world. 

This will all be done in conjunction or partnership with international tourism companies. Upon completion of the tourism initiative, tourism will become a major income earner for the country. 

Almost every developed and developing nation in the world understands the foreign exchange potential of tourism and even rich countries like those in the Middle East are spending billions to make their country attractive.  We already have those attractions naturally.

God Bless Our Nation. 

Steve Alvarez