Stakeholders call for ANR Robinson Airport to be opened soon
2026-03-30 - 03:54
Tobago Correspondent Tobago Hotel and Tourism Association (THTA) head Reginald MacLean believes the new ANR Robinson International Airport in Crown Point should be opened as soon as possible. Chief Secretary Farley Augustine told Guardian Media last Thursday that the $1.2 billion airport should be fully operational by July/August. However, he said some stakeholders are advocating for a spectacular opening to coincide with the annual Tobago carnival, scheduled for October 30-November 1. Augustine said various concessionaires will be included to provide goods and services to complete the unique Tobago experience. Speaking with Guardian Media yesterday, MacLean, who is also a board member of the Tobago Tourism Agency Ltd (TTAL), said his information is that the airport will be opened in June. “The airport is supposed to open to coincide with a Caribbean Airlines flight in June out of Canada—if that is still coming in with what you read in the news about Caribbean Airlines (seeking a government bailout). We are hoping it opens in June as opposed to opening sometime before Carnival in Tobago. But as you know, with anything in this country, when it happens, we believe it.” He added, “It needs to be open as soon as possible.” MacLean said apart from restaurants and liquor retailers, the new airport terminal should include a joint TTAL-THTA booth where visitors can get merchandise and information about Tobago’s attractions. He said this booth would be the key to help tourists unlock everything the island has to offer. At a plenary sitting last Wednesday, Secretary of Tourism Zorisha Hackett said Tobago must market itself beyond the cliche sand, sea and sun. She said there is tremendous interest in eco-tourism and said the Main Ridge Forest Reserve provides vast potential for that. She said the division is also heavily investing in sports tourism with Døds Diving, one of the fastest growing sports in the world, back on the island on May 23. The event will be streamed live on ESPN in the United States and distributed to over 60 countries in the world