Trinidad and Tobago – building sustainable sport tourism niche

PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad – The year 2016 is already a period of great celebration and renewal for sport in the Caribbean, and Trinidad and Tobago is set to build a sustainable sport tourism niche, di

PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad – The year 2016 is already a period of great celebration and renewal for sport in the Caribbean, and Trinidad and Tobago is set to build a sustainable sport tourism niche, diversify visitor and resident experiences, while highlighting the islands’ unique attributes

As Trinidad and Tobago joins the rest of the world in celebrating the West Indies dominance of World T20 cricket, sport tourism continues to play a vitally important role in our country’s social, cultural, economic and infrastructural development.


Cricket is a beloved sport in Trinidad and Tobago. Even international cricket fans that follow their teams on tour will say that you haven’t experienced cricket until you have experienced it in Trinidad and Tobago. Tournaments being played in Trinidad and Tobago this year include the Caribbean Premier League Cricket (CPL T20) scheduled to bowl off in July 2016.

The Tobago International Cycling Classic is ranked as one of the world’s leading sporting events and has successfully intensified Tobago and Trinidad’s Sport Tourism initiative due to its global reputation and incredible potential as a foreign exchange earner for both islands.

Following the strategic alliance formed with ESPN in 2011, the Tobago International Cycling Classic and Tobago took centre stage to an estimated audience of over one hundred million households in two hundred cities across five continents. In 2013, the event saw record-breaking participation of over 300 international, regional and local cyclists from 25 countries; an increase of over 100 percent compared to previous record years in 2011 and 2012.

Trinidad and Tobago continues to be the destination of choice for events such as the 2016 Trinidad and Tobago Cycling Federation Easter International Grand Prix and the 2016 Women’s Junior Pan American Hockey Championships which have positioned sport tourism as an important emerging sector with the capacity for entrepreneurial development, employment creation, youth empowerment and earning foreign revenue.

Now on the sporting calendar for the first time in 2016 is the Tobago International Sea to Sea Marathon-an event that will attract 500 runners and visitors from around the world for a full weekend of activities including 5K and 10K races and half and full marathons in May 2016.

Home to the largest Carnival celebration in the Caribbean, Trinidad & Tobago is the southernmost Caribbean nation located seven miles east off the Venezuelan coast. Ranked the happiest nation in the Caribbean by the United Nations’ World Happiness Report, in 2013 and 2015, the destination’s distinct and harmonious blend of cultures, eclectic cuisine and environmental treasures continue to attract travelers of all ages to its shores. Birthplace of the limbo and the world famous steelpan, the only acoustic instrument invented in the 20th century, as well as a diverse mix of monthly festivals and events, it’s little wonder that Trinidad is known as the ‘cultural capital of the Caribbean.’ Sister island Tobago offers a quintessential Caribbean vibe with secluded beaches, quaint villages, private villas and award-winning eco attractions. Tobago is home to the largest brain coral in the Western Hemisphere and the oldest protected reserve in the Western hemisphere, The Main Ridge Rainforest. Come and explore Trinidad and Tobago – the true Caribbean!

For more information on Trinidad & Tobago, visit gotrinidadandtobago.com or visittobago.gov.tt

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Avatar of Linda Hohnholz

Linda Hohnholz

Editor in chief for eTurboNews based in the eTN HQ.

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