The Christmas season in Tobago has proven disappointing for many hoteliers and operators of guest houses and bed-and-breakfast establishments, with the Tobago Hotel and Tourism Association attributing the downturn to ongoing military tensions between the United States and Venezuela.
Even without a curfew in effect, the state of emergency declared on the island has contributed to reduced bookings and lower tourist arrivals, according to Reginald MacLean, president of the association. In a recent interview with Newsday, MacLean noted that tourism on the island during the Yuletide period has experienced a noticeable decline.
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He stated that the drop in visitor numbers was primarily linked to the US-Venezuela tensions and compounded by the current state of emergency. MacLean cited the Blue Waters Inn in Speyside, where he serves as general manager, as an example of the declining occupancy. He revealed that this year the hotel operated at approximately seventy percent capacity, contrasting sharply with full bookings during the same period in 2024.
Reports from other establishments across Tobago mirrored similar trends. MacLean emphasized that the island’s tourism sector faces limitations due to restricted flight and ferry services, which hinders the ability to fill hotels and other hospitality facilities. He urged the government to take concrete action to support the tourism industry, noting that promises of diversification away from the oil and gas economy have yet to translate into tangible results.
Former association president Alpha Lorde, who manages Mt Irvine Bay Hotel, echoed these concerns. Lorde described the Christmas season as quiet, observing that both 2024 and 2025 had been lackluster for the island’s hospitality sector. He indicated that other hotel operators also reported a significant decline in tourist activity.
Lorde explained that multiple factors contributed to a challenging year for tourism. The initial state of emergency, followed by a general election and subsequent government transition, disrupted the usual operations and attention to the tourism product. The return of the state of emergency and the geopolitical tensions between the United States and Venezuela further compounded the difficulties faced by the industry.
Despite the setbacks, Lorde and his peers maintain cautious optimism for the coming year. He expressed hope that 2026 will bring a recovery in tourism activity and a resurgence in visitor numbers.
Newsday reached out to Chief Secretary Farley Augustine and THA Secretary of Tourism, Culture, Antiquities and Transportation Tashia Burris for comments, but all calls and messages went unanswered.
