Tobago’s tourism industry is experiencing a momentous breakthrough as the destination recorded the highest increase in international stayover arrivals to the island in nine (9) years. At the end of December 2019, statistics revealed that there were 19,542 international stayover arrivals to Tobago for the year - an 8.2% increase over 2018.
Furthermore, 2020 arrival figures for Tobago already indicate a continued upward trajectory in stayover arrivals for the island, as January 2020 figures show a 21.8% increase over January 2019 - 2,805 stayover arrivals this year as compared to 2,303 last year.
Commenting on the recent milestone in Tobago’s journey to a rejuvenated tourism industry, CEO of the Tobago Tourism Agency Limited, Mr. Louis Lewis, stated:
“The rebranding of Destination Tobago as Tobago Beyond: unspoilt, untouched, undiscovered, as well as a new Go To Market strategy unveiled by the Agency in 2018, was the catalyst for positive performance in Tobago’s tourism sector.
The renewed brand identity has proven to resonate well with trade partners and consumers alike in Tobago’s source markets, and complemented TTAL’s award-winning marketing campaign crafted to create positive impressions of the destination, and convert those impressions to bookings. These successes were only made possible through collaboration with the island’s stakeholders.” The performance of the Canadian market last year was a significant factor in the overall growth recorded. Canada was identified by the Tobago Tourism Agency Limited as one of the new growth markets for destination Tobago in 2017 when the organisation was established.
By December 2018, TTAL successfully negotiated direct airlift from Canada to Tobago for the first time in the island’s history, engaging leisure carrier Sunwing Airlines which was responsible for the majority of Canadian visitors to Tobago in 2019.
Canadian journalists enjoy a trek through the rainforest during a press trip hosted by TTAL from January 30 to February 3, 2020
Negotiating airlift was only the first step in ensuring growth from the Canadian market. In order to stimulate awareness and interest in Tobago, and to create a demand for travel, TTAL worked assiduously to promote destination Tobago in Canada and raise awareness about the available flight options to the destination.
In addition to growth from the Canada market in 2019, Germany stayover arrivals also increased by 12% and arrivals from the UK market saw an increase of 6.7%.
The Tobago Tourism Agency Limited is continuing to build upon the success illustrated in 2019, by ensuring that their strategic marketing efforts continue into 2020 and beyond, complemented by product development initiatives to enhance the on-island experience for visitors. Source: Tobago Tourist Board, Feb 2020

Tourism Minister Randall Mitchell said he was not surprised Pigeon Point was named in the world's 50 best beaches by international monthly magazine Marie Claire.
“The high ranking of Pigeon Point Beach as one of the world’s most exotic and beautiful beaches comes as no surprise to me or to any of us in the tourism sector," he said.
In a recent article on marieclaire.com Pigeon Point was listed eighth in the 50 best beaches in the world, though the article did not state there was a ranking of the beaches. The caption read "Even the palm trees in the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago are relaxed."
Mitchell in a message to Newsday said that Pigeon Point is "certainly regarded as the most iconic and beautiful in all of Trinidad and Tobago. And there is more beauty still to behold in the other idyllic, serene, and peaceful beaches in the undiscovered paradise that is Tobago. Englishman’s bay, Back bay, Pirate’s Bay, Speyside, Castara to name a few."
He said together with the Tobago House of Assembly and the Tobago Tourism Agency Government is actively trying to attract more and more visitors to experience the awesome beauty that lies in Tobago.
"To do that means we must work on airlift and offer a welcoming and an uncomplicated business environment to those integrated hotel operators wishing to set up in Tobago.
"Such as Apple Leisure Group and the Sunwing Group who all are integrated with the airlift required to bring visitors to our shores. We are excited by the interest and commitment by those huge tourism players." He added: "It is unfortunate the circumstances of the Sandals withdrawal as they too had a tremendous pulling power to draw visitors to experiences the beautiful paradise that we are fortunate to call home."
The marieclaire.com list included beaches from Florida and California in the US, Greece, Cambodia, Seychelles, Philippines, Indonesia, Mexico, Spain and there were seven other Caribbean beaches: Shoal Bay East, Anguilla; Eagle Beach, Aruba; Harrismith Beach, Barbados; Cas Abao, Curaçao; Seven Mile Beach, Grand Caymans; Reduit Beach, St Lucia; and Trunk Bay, St John, US Virgin Islands.
In July 2017, Pigeon Point Beach was ranked 98 of the world's 100 best beaches by CNN.com. The website said "Pigeon Point is a literal representation of the Caribbean beach ideal, right down to the charming old lady who sells soursop ice cream by the pound" and described the highlight as the thatched-roofed jetty "possibly the most photographed jetty in the world".
Pigeon Point Beach is also rated 4.5 from 1,222 reviews on Tripadvisor.com and number 17 of 174 things to do in Tobago. Source: Newsday, Feb 5, 2020.

​Tobago's magic is captured spectacularly in a three minutes and 10-second film featured on National Geographic.
The video is a result of a collaboration with the Tobago Tourism Agency Ltd (TTAL) and is featured in the latest edition of world renowned National Geographic magazine. It showcases eloquently the countless aspects of Tobago’s unique and jaw-dropping environmental attraction and boldly declares, "There is no comparison to beauty."
Introduced with a quartet of concise but engaging reports the National Geographic writer directs readers to what she describes as the seven most beautiful places in Tobago including Argyle Waterfalls, Flagstaff Hill and Englishman’s Bay. A compulsory expedition through the hiking trails of the world’s oldest protected rainforest to get up close and personal with the hundreds of species of birds and other wildlife must also be on the to-do list of visitors; and as well as lazing on the many beaches highlighted we’re also reminded of watersports and bioluminescence trips to No Man’s Land. Focusing on the island’s recent and longtime cookery influences and the culinary skills which typify dirt oven baking and the many variations of dasheen also entice the traveller tempted by food as part of the rest and relaxation package.
The magazine’s web edition also showcases an impressive promotional film titled Tobago: Full of Life, documenting the island’s many charms and beauty. Narrated by local voices the atmospheric documentary shares panoramic views of both the Caribbean and Atlantic coasts and beaches, together with aerial shots of familiar landmarks and depictions of Tobagonian life.
Viewers are given a snippet of the beauty and lush scenery of the rainforest, reefs, aquatic life and village festivals.
Talking about the collaboration with the National Geographic Magazine as part of the Tobago Beyond marketing campaign TTAL CEO Louis Lewis said the partnership will open tourism doors for the island.
“National Geographic are known as a travel magazine [which] has a close association with eco-adventurers, and people trust their content. The TTAL wanted to pursue an alliance with them to put us in the mainstream [and] where the crème de la crème [of tourists and world travellers] would be attracted to Tobago as environmentally beautiful and where our people are living in harmony with nature – those aspects are what attracts visitors,” he said.
Believing this type of joint work to be beneficial, Louis lauded the efficacy of the TTAL promotional campaign which he announced had achieved thousands of views since initial publication in early January.
“We wanted to ensure that we are attractive and engaging for clientele that appreciate the product that is Tobago. We are creating a viral promotion and the content is published on a site of trusted authenticity. It is for us to convert these views into a motivation to travel here, and that also results in increases in arrivals.”
Acknowledging the competitive Caribbean tourism market, Lewis said progress could be seen with the 20 per cent increase in tourist arrivals in the first month of this year.
As to the coming months, he said TTAL will maintain a robust approach. “Continuing to be strategic and innovative and to work more closely with hotel and property owners so positive impressions from this type of publicity can be converted into new and innovative sales.”
Copy and paste this URL into your browser to watch the film: ​​https://www.nationalgeographic.co.uk/travel/2019/12/tobago-full-life#vpcp

Soca star Machel Montano has tied the knot.
The 45-year-old wed his long-time partner Renee Butcher at the Red House on Valentine's Day. The ceremony was the first to be held at the Rotunda at the Red House since the building was reopened just three weeks ago.

More geological activity has been discovered in South Trinidad after six new mud volcanoes were spotted. 
Researcher and geologist, Xavier Moonan, shared photos via social media showing the new formations in Los Iros. 
"New mud volcanoes! At least 6 new mud volcano cones have appeared over the last week in RE Trace, Los Iros. The new cones all occur along the trace of the August 21st 2018 earthquake fault rupture which completely offset the roads along RE Trace."
"Oil sheen and strong sent of hydrocarbons accompany the mudflow. Mud samples were collected for analysis," Moonan said. 
A resurgence of activity at the Piparo Mud Volcano in October 2019 caused panic among residents.
State officials monitored the mud volcano and some people were even evacuated after it began showing signs of activity including cracks in a nearby road and emissions of gas and mud.
The Piparo Mud Volcano is known for an eruption in 1997 which caused catastrophic damage to over 33 homes in the area. 
Source: The Loop, Jan 20, 2020

The Council and Staff of the National Trust rejoice in the reopening of the Red House, the seat of our democracy.
It is our fervent hope that the grandeur of the Red House will spark a desire in citizens to preserve, cherish and celebrate all heritage symbols that entwine our shared past with our shared future.
The National Trust wishes to thank all those who have contributed to the restoration of the Red House and other heritage properties that are the inheritance of every citizen of Trinidad and Tobago.

The Red House has been pro­claimed as the place for the con­tin­u­a­tion of Par­lia­ment.
A state­ment from the Par­lia­ment yes­ter­day showed a le­gal no­tice signed by Pres­i­dent Paula-Mae Weekes where she ap­point­ed the Red House as the place at which the Fifth Ses­sion of the Eleventh Par­lia­ment shall con­tin­ue.
Here is the full text of the procla­ma­tion be­low:
WHERE­AS it is pro­vid­ed by sub­sec­tion (1) of sec­tion 67 of the Con­sti­tu­tion of the Re­pub­lic of Trinidad and To­ba­go, that each ses­sion of Par­lia­ment shall be held at such place with­in Trinidad and To­ba­go and shall com­mence at such time as the
Restora­tion works have been on­go­ing at the Red House, which housed Par­lia­ment for decades.
Last last year it was an­nounced that sit­tings of the Up­per and Low­er House would re­turn to the Red House this month af­ter be­ing housed at the In­ter­na­tion­al Wa­ter­front Com­plex, Port-of-Spain for the last eight years.
Gov­ern­ment said last year it would take some time for Par­lia­ment staff and op­er­a­tions to move in­to the Red House and this would be done dur­ing while the hous­es were on re­cess.
It was not the first time the his­toric Red House had to be re­stored or re­built.
The orig­i­nal build­ing was de­stroyed in 1903 wa­ter ri­ots and re­built in 1907.
It was giv­en its fa­mous coat of red paint in 1897 when this coun­try, which made up British colonies, pre­pared to cel­e­brate then Queen Vic­to­ria’s di­a­mond ju­bilee.
Pres­i­dent may by Procla­ma­tion ap­point:
Now, there­fore, I, PAULA-MAE WEEKES, Pres­i­dent as afore­said, do here­by ap­point the Red House, Port-of-Spain, Trinidad, as the place at which the Fifth Ses­sion of the Eleventh Par­lia­ment of the Re­pub­lic of Trinidad and To­ba­go shall con­tin­ue.
Giv­en un­der my Hand and the Seal of the Pres­i­dent of the Re­pub­lic of Trinidad and To­ba­go at the Of­fice of the Pres­i­dent, St. Ann’s, this 10th day of Jan­u­ary, 2020.
Source: Trinidad Guardian, Jan 16, 2020

Morning lows across Trinidad are already dipping below 20°C, with a few areas nearing 19°C on Saturday morning as of 1:00 AM.
Parts of interior Trinidad, such as Penal and Caroni may see morning low temperatures near 18.0°C.
Temperatures across Tobago, albeit still cool, have remained near 23°C
Low temperatures during this time of year are normal, as the Northern Hemisphere experiences winter.
Cool temperatures across Trinidad result of several factors occurring:

• Calm/near calm winds
• Almost no cloud coverage
• Winds originating from the Northeast to the north at some of the lower levels of the atmosphere (over Trinidad)
• Low amounts of low-level moisture (water vapor)

The dew point, which is the atmospheric temperature below which water droplets begin to condense and dew can form, meteorologists can determine both the moisture content of the atmosphere near the surface, as well as an estimate for the minimum temperature.
A lower dew point means that there is less water vapor in the air. Water vapor can absorb and radiate heat back to the surface. Hence, the lower the water vapor content, the more infrared radiation (i.e. long-wave radiation) can escape from the surface of the earth and cause rapid cooling.
Calm winds and no cloud coverage are due to a persistent sub-tropical high-pressure system that will begin to dominate the weather for much of January, causing dry air at mid and upper levels of the atmosphere, inhibiting cloud formation.
Lack of cloud coverage also leads to fairly warm days, where temperatures can reach 30-32°C.
Particularly during El Niño years, winter storms move further southward across the United States, increasing the likelihood of cold frontal systems moving across the Caribbean and further dipping temperatures. On the rare occasion, a cold front does manage to make it as far south as Trinidad and Tobago, cold conditions would be due to a process called advection, where there is a horizontal mass movement of air.
For vulnerable persons, who might be especially susceptible to cooler temperatures, such as babies or people suffering from arthritis, it may be best to layer up as a way to keep warm at night.