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Corey Connelly
TOBAGO received a Silver Award for Most Desirable Island from Wanderlust Travel magazine, at the 2022 World Travel Market in London, England.
Wanderlust Travel Magazine Editor and CEO George Kipourus presented the award to THA Chief Secretary Farley Augustine on Wednesday at the close of WTM.
A photograph of Kipourus presenting the prestigious award to Augustine was posted on the Office of the Chief Secretary’s Facebook page. The awards ceremony took place at the Tower of London, one of England’s most important historic sites.
Wanderlust is one of the UK’s leading independent travel magazines. Each issue highlights exciting destinations and off-the-beaten-path experiences.
Tobago Tourism Agency Ltd (TTAL) executive chairman Alicia Edwards, who is part of Tobago’s contingent at the WTM, said the award provides “excellent validation” that the agency is making the right decisions in terms of marketing strategy and of niche markets in which the island continues to operate.
Edwards said the award is an indication that the island’s ongoing strategy to rekindle interest in the Tobago destination among the UK travel market is bearing fruit.
She said: “This award is like the icing on the cake for us, it comes unexpectedly at the end of the WTM… It’s really wonderful to have this victory after a few difficult years, and we will continue this momentum. as we move forward.
Edwards said Tobago’s incredible natural beauty and unique, authentic experiences set it apart from regional competitors, including Cuba and St. Lucia, which placed fourth and seventh respectively, as well as popular island destinations such as Bali Bali.
She said the Most Desirable Island, won by Palawan, an island in the Philippines, was a reader-voted award, where 50,000 real Wanderlust readers – some of the most traveled in the world – nominated and voted for their destinations. of choice.
Edwards said Lyn Hughes, founding editor of Wanderlust, visited the Tobago stand at the WTM on Wednesday to personally congratulate the Tobago delegation on winning the award.
She said Hughes was thrilled to see Toabgo take home the silver award.
Hughes is quoted as saying: “One thing that has really helped our readers become aware of Tobago is that we hosted a webinar, working closely with the tourism board. I know that within the Wanderlust team, this was one of our favorite webinars over the last year, we absolutely loved it and found the people involved to be such a pleasure to work with.
Hughes added, “I think this webinar, along with some of the other things done over the years to showcase Tobago, has really paid off and struck a chord with our readers as a place they don’t. perhaps hadn’t considered it before, but ever since they found out about it, they knew it was the destination for them.
Commenting on the prize money, Tobago Hotel and Tourism Association Vice President Carol-Ann Birchwood-James said it could be used to further market the island as an ideal tourist destination.
“It’s always great news when we win awards because we can use those awards to continue to market our island of Tobago,” she told Newsday.
“I’m sure it would have been a reward off the beaten path as we are an unspoilt destination and we hope it will stay that way. This is always good news and I commend the people and governance of Tobago for receiving an award like this.
