September 12, 2016: The Ministry of Tourism is continuing its data collection initiative with the recent launch of the Business Data component of the Tourism Baseline Survey project. The Honourable Shamfa Cudjoe, Minister of Tourism, met the Tourism Enumerators that are conducting the Business Data Survey of the Baseline Survey on Wednesday September 07, 2016 at the Minister’s International Waterfront Centre Offices in Port of Spain.
The Tourism Baseline Survey project, which was launched in January this year, is a key part of the Ministry’s efforts to establish primary indicators to determine the overall performance of the tourism sector and the impact of Ministry’s policies and programmes.
Statistics play a critical role in informing our decision making processes. We are increasingly called upon to make policy choices on the basis of sound evidence. In this regard, the provision of timely, accurate and consistent statistical facts, enable us to manage the local tourism sector more prudently.
During the meeting with the Enumerators, Minister Cudjoe underscored “the need for the establishment of a database for key tourism statistics for various segments of the tourism industry”. Minister Cudjoe stated that her “the intent of the Ministry of Tourism is to ensure better planning and development of tourism policies and programs that are evidenced-based andestablished on market intelligence information”.
With respect to the business data collection exercise, the Minister thanked the primary stakeholders in accommodation, ground transport, tours and sightseeing and restaurants for their ongoing contribution to the development of the tourism sector.
Minister Cudjoe emphasised that “one important outcome of the overall project is “the formation of specific tourism business development policies and programs to increase/improve entrepreneurship within the tourism sector and encouraged stakeholders to share their expertise and knowledge with the Ministry during the process”.
Minister Shamfa Cudjoe also commended the young persons who were specially trained as Enumerators to conduct face to face interviews with the stakeholders and expressed her sincerest thanks to them for their interest and passion in assisting the tourism sector reach its fullest potential.
The business data collection exercise of the Tourism Baseline Survey is expected to be completed within three (3) months and is being implemented through the Monitoring and Evaluation Unit of the Ministry of Tourism.
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For further information please contact:
The Corporate Communications Unit
Ministry of Tourism
868-625-0963 Ext. 248