19 premier tourism sites to get facelift

Nineteen of this country’s premier tourism sites are to receive a facelift, thanks to a five million Euro tourism development project, slated to continue through 2009.

One site, the Vermont Nature Trail, has already benefited from the project, with 18 other trekking, historic, recreational and waterfall sites set to have work done in various aspects of development.{{more}}

Most of the development is expected to be in the area of the construction of welcome booths, washrooms, parking, picnic facilities, trail access, site interpretation and security.

A seven member Project Support Unit headed by German project coordinator Gernot Ott will work along with the Ministry of Tourism, the National Parks, Rivers and Beaches Authority and community organizations on this project, which aims to strengthen the tourism sector.

The committee believes that the infrastructure and added attractions to the sites will not only increase visitors to the areas, but also boost employment and income opportunities in the affected communities.

Some of the sites earmarked to be developed include Owia Salt Pond, Dark View, Trinity Falls and Falls of Baleine, Black Point and Wallilabou Heritage Parks, Botanic Gardens, Belmont Lookout, Cumberland, Rawacou and Rabacca River Recreation Parks, and the Tobago Cays Marine Park.

Ott and other members of the unit, speaking to the

media at a luncheon hosted by the Ministry of Tourism on Monday at Grenadine House, indicated that management teams will be assigned to the sites following the completion of each project, overlooking the day to day operations of the sites, and that user fees are expected to be attached to the venues. (JJ)