Official Media Release from the Tobago Tourism Agency Limited:

Tobago has been awarded the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) “Safe Travels” stamp after the development of a Tourism Industry Health & Safety Manual by the Tobago Tourism Agency Limited (TTAL). 

The Safe Travels stamp is the world’s first ever global safety and hygiene stamp for travel and tourism designed specifically to address COVID-19 and similar outbreaks. It is awarded only to destinations with health protocols in sync with those of the WTTC – an international organisation that represents the global private sector of travel and tourism, with a mission to ensure the sector is seamless, secure, safe, inclusive and sustainable. The United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) has also welcomed and endorsed the WTTC Safe Travels stamp, which places the safety and hygiene of travellers as top priority. 

Tobago is one of only three Caribbean destinations awarded this esteemed recognition from WTTC, and joins other leading global destinations certified and authorized to use the “Safe Travels” logo including Jamaica, Aruba, Dubai, and Spain. Tobago’s iconic “Tobago Beyond” logo will also be featured on WTTC’s website in the coming days to identify and promote the island as an approved “Safe travels” destination to global audiences. 

Commenting on the significance of this award, TTAL CEO Louis Lewis, stated: “Receiving the stamp of approval of the WTTC for Tobago as a ‘Safe Destination’ is tremendously important for us as a destination promoting the island to potential visitors. Health and safety are the most important concerns for visitors at this time, and this stamp certainly endorses our efforts and will be a key factor in rebuilding confidence.” 

As local brand ambassadors of the “Safe Travels” stamp, the Tobago Tourism Agency Limited will continue to advocate for industry stakeholders to implement the protocols outlined in the Agency’s Tourism Industry Health & Safety Manual that have been vetted and endorsed by the WTTC.  

Narendra Ramgulam, TTAL’s Director of Product Development and Destination Management, who spearheaded the development of the Manual stated: “One of the first things that TTAL started doing was put research into the creation of a health and safety manual which would not only guide the industry’s practices as it copes with the new normal, but provide a level of assurance internationally that Tobago is safe and ready for travelers again.  The manual would not have been possible without our stakeholders, whose feedback during our consultation sessions were quite useful, and utilized in synthesizing a coherent manual that was submitted to the WTTC. “ 

Once local industry stakeholders are willing to follow through and adopt the practices outlined in TTAL’s manual, they too can be awarded use of the Safe Travels stamp to use for their own businesses.