Published on : Saturday, October 13, 2018
Imbert was responding to Opposition MP Ramona Ramdial during yesterday’s Standing Finance Committee meeting into the Tobago House of Assembly in Parliament, as she questioned what benefits Tobago will generate after $20 million is spent on the annual festival.
Imbert gave a breakdown of how the $20 million will be distributed to six entities, with the largest chunk of $8 million being handed to the Tobago Heritage Festival, stating that these were all tourism focused activities.
In light of the decrease in tourism on the island in the last five years, Ramdial questioned if the money allocated was justified to attract tourists and if more needed to be done.
Ramdial pointed out that while Government injects millions into these events, ticket sales rake in far less than what is expended, as she queried if the injections were justified.
Opposition MP Tim Gopeesingh also queried why $40 million had to be spent on a three-year tourism plan.
Imbert said the bulk of the $40 million, as has been the practice for many years, was to purchase airlifts.