TORONTO — Tobago is happy to be an under-the-radar Caribbean gem – it just wants more Canadians to know what it has to offer.
That’s the fine line that Tobago Tourism Agency Ltd. had in mind yesterday as it hosted an intimate terrace lunch in Toronto for travel trade media and partners.
Alongside celebrating the island’s unspoiled beauty, the luncheon highlighted Tobago’s authentic spirit complete with local delicacies like Tobago Rum Punch and Sorrel Mimosas, Chicken Pelau, Curry Crab with Dumplings, Spiced Plantains and Pineapple & Mango Chow – plus, of course, lively island music to set the scene.
Highlights from yesterday’s event included a look at Tobago’s unique attractions, like the 250-year-old Bay Ridge Forest Reserve, the first legally protected rainforest globally.
Tobago also offers diverse beaches, such as No Man’s Land and the Nylon Pool, and a vibrant reef system. Tobago’s beaches are community-run, offering a genuine and welcoming atmosphere, unlike private beaches owned by hotels.
The island’s villages, like Castara, maintain their authentic culture and host community-led festivals including the Blue Food Festival.
Meanwhile Tobago’s new airport, expected to handle three million passengers annually, enhances accessibility.
Tobago’s authenticity, eco-friendliness, and the ease of legal marriage, make it an ideal destination for romance and wellness, said Ann Layton, CEO, Siren Communications, at yesterday’s event.
Layton had her own wedding in Tobago and spoke to the ease of destination weddings on the island from personal experience. The legal requirements for marriage in Tobago are straightforward, with only a one-day residency needed.
The island is also a haven for wellness travellers, with everything from yoga to paddleboarding and surfing, to hiking and discovering waterfalls.
The new airport in Tobago was highlighted as a significant upgrade, expected to handle three million passengers annually. Options for reaching Tobago include flights through Trinidad, Barbados, and direct flights from Canada.
Tobago is authentic, and that’s a big part of its charm, shared Layton.
“If travellers really just want a swim-up bar and an all-you-can-eat buffet, probably don’t choose Tobago. That’s not the actual purpose of this destination,” she said. “Tobago is a little gem within a very quick flight of Toronto that is still very undiscovered by mass tourism, and that is why I love it so much.”
Layton added: “If you want to go to a beach where you are literally the only person there, that is absolutely possible in Tobago. If you want to go to a beach with a small amount of activity, like something like a Castara, where you have locals and vendors and little shops, you can do that. There’s all sorts of different types of beaches. What you don’t find are private beaches that are owned by hotels where the locals are not there.”
