Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago. February 19, 2025: The Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA), through its Regional Tourism and Health Program (THP), continues to collaborate with Tourism Trinidad Limited (TTL) to build capacity to promote healthier, safer tourism as Trinidad prepares for its annual Carnival mass gathering event 2025. Both CARPHA and TTL are committed to safe and responsible tourism to protect the health and well-being of both visitors and the local populations, especially during the Carnival season.
Trinidad and Tobago’s Carnival, known as the “Greatest Show on Earth” expects a high number of tourists from many countries to experience the rich and authentic celebrations. During mass gathering events, there is the increased likelihood that infectious diseases can spread faster as large numbers of persons are in close contact. CARPHA, through its regional Tourism and Health program (THP) aims to strengthen capacity among tourism stakeholders to better manage and respond to any public health threats.
A total of 148 persons from tourism entities in Trinidad participated in CARPHA’s “Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases during Mass Gatherings” training on February 18, 2025, in preparation for Carnival 2025. Participants were from tourism and hospitality sectors, including accommodations, food and beverages, transportation providers, tour guides, tour operators and organisations associated with events such as promoters and mas bands. This targeted training provided Trinidad tourism stakeholders with the knowledge, capacity and practical examples of prevention and control measures of infectious diseases in the Caribbean region during mass gathering events, such as Carnival 2025.
Dr Lisa Indar, Executive Director, CARPHA, remarked, “This training is important to build the capacity of tourism entities to reduce illnesses and public health threats. Carnival attracts a high number of tourists which can perhaps contribute to the spread of new and re-emerging infectious diseases. Tourism stakeholders will be equipped with the knowledge of how to prevent and operate safely during mas gathering events, reducing the risk and occurrences of vaccine-preventable diseases, vector-borne diseases, respiratory diseases, food and water-borne diseases and sexually transmitted diseases”.
Mr. Cornell Buckradee, Interim Chief Executive Officer, TTL, shared “CARPHA, through this capacity building, urges continued efforts which will keep the Region safe. We thank CARPHA for recognising the public health threats and for taking proactive measures to prevent and control them. We look forward to a continued successful collaboration with CARPHA to ensure tourism stakeholders are prepared to operate with an increased level of awareness, leading to improved levels of health and safety within their planning and operations”.
TTL has worked closely with CARPHA since the THP’s inception in Trinidad launching the programme on September 23, 2016. Since then, 193 facilities in Trinidad have registered on the Tourism and Health Information System (THiS), 1503 persons trained in prevention and control of infectious diseases, 37 persons trained and certified in Advanced Food Safety Training and 53 facilities received the Healthier Safer Tourism Award. Additionally, Trinidad was a host country during the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, and in collaboration with both the Ministry of Health and TTL, received specialised capacity building sessions in managing infectious diseases during mass gatherings, Food and Environmental Safety training for food handlers and mass gathering surveillance (78, 97 and 31 persons trained respectively).
About CARPHA-THP
CARPHA’s THP is a multifaceted programme, the first of its kind, which continues to pioneer work for improving sustainable Caribbean tourism and health security, whilst engaging and collaborating with CARPHA Member States. The THP adopts a multisectoral approach for improving the resilience of the tourism industry and by extension, the health sector of each participating country through surveillance, response, guidelines, capacity building, standards, policy, advocacy and partnerships, and a travellers’ health award and app. The THP strengthens regional and national health systems and enhances the health of visitor and resident populations by seeking to address the health, safety, and environmental sanitation threats to tourism. The programme has built capacity and equipped countries with regional tools that supports preparedness and response to public health threats.
About TTL
TTL is the destination development and marketing company charged with the responsibility of repositioning the tourism sector in Trinidad. Incorporated on June 29, 2017, TTL’s mission is to harness and shape the authentic and distinctive Trinidad tourism product and experience through research-based creative and cutting-edge marketing, leveraging technology and innovation, to unlock the destination’s true tourism potential.