00:00There's now more to see and do in downtown Port of Spain and just in time for the 2025
00:07cruise ship season.
00:08So today, because we have a small ship for this launch, it's 260, many of them have already
00:14pre-booked tours.
00:15So we have six selected vendors who will be doing targeted artisan type sale of goods
00:22to ensure that those wanderers who just want to come and take a walk into town can get
00:28a souvenir, can get local art, can get a taste of local chocolate.
00:33As we know, we have some of the best cocoa in the world.
00:35It comes as the Port of Spain City Corporation has allocated funding to the tune of just
00:40under $1 million to develop its tourism thrust in the city.
00:45And Deputy Mayor Abina Hartley says this is just the beginning.
00:49We have produced our first original Port of Spain or the Port of Spain City memorabilia
00:57that will be on sale, that will depict various buildings and culture via fridge magnets.
01:04We have many, many spaces that can be utilized for art.
01:09So we will be investing in our local artists to come and paint the walk over, come and
01:13do some street art.
01:15We will also be looking at our private stakeholders to input in terms of buying advertising space.
01:21We are liaising very closely with one of our major mobile networks to provide Wi-Fi zones.
01:27And so that will be an opportunity for revenue as well.
01:29So we really do intend to ensure that we're not just dependent on central government for
01:34our revenue, but also we are active in producing and making revenue streams.
01:40The authority is also giving the assurance that security will be augmented during the
01:45cruise ship season.
01:46A strong and stringent security plan that will ensure the safety and security of all
01:52visitors during the cruise ship season, which will roll over to Christmas and Carnival.
02:00A release from the Ministry of Tourism today states that the Seabourne Venture arrived
02:04at port on Tuesday with close to 500 people on board and that Trinidad will welcome over
02:1020 cores from 11 cruise lines this season, against the backdrop of a record-breaking
02:1762% increase in passenger arrivals last season.
02:21An estimated $4,370,856 was spent by passengers during the 2023-2024 cruise ship season.
02:33Renessa Cutting, TV6 News.
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