Virgin to Return to Tobago

Virgin Holidays and Virgin Atlantic will soon be returning to Tobago, less than a year after the airline announced it was withdrawing its direct service from London. The Virgin flights will return to Tobago next spring (March to May), in time for the popular summer tourist arrivals season.

The news will provide a boost for the destination, which will also see an increase by other airlines from Europe and coincides with a range of upgrades, extensions and hotel openings.
Tobago House of Assembly (THA) Tourism Secretary Tracy Davidson-Celestine said she was happy that Virgin wanted to come back to Tobago after such a short time away.

“An agreement for our airline partner to return was quickly reached once Virgin approached us. This is a significant endorsement of all the hard work we have put into building the destination and helping improve our product,” said Davidson-Celestine.

Virgin’s restored summer service flights are expected to begin once weekly on Sunday March 29, 2015, followed by twice weekly flights from October 2015, on Tuesdays and Saturdays.
In an effort to make the route cost effective, the flights will be shared with St Lucia.

The new agreement, signed recently by both parties, is valid for three years from the proposed flight start date.

The return of Virgin comes after rival Monarch Airlines took a strategic decision to stop making long-haul flights across the Atlantic. It also coincides with strong improvements in product and service on the island.

“We’re delighted to see this service return to Tobago, which we expect to be an attractive draw and positive addition to our Caribbean program,” said Gaizka Fraser, product services director for Virgin Holidays. “Our executives will be visiting Tobago shortly to ensure that everything goes to plan and Virgin Holidays’ customers get the best Tobago has to offer.”

Over the past 12 months, the THA has sought to re-position the destination, initiating a bold new advertising, marketing and promotions campaign, with stronger cohesive messaging across all key source markets. Training and educational programs have also helped shift the focus to more than just sun, sand and sea, but selling “Tobago authentic experiences”.

And substantial investment has been made in a number of hotel properties on the island. A US$1 million upgrade to Blue Waters Inn in Speyside and the refurbishment of Green Palm Hotel, now known as CHIC hotel, in Bon Accord have been completed.

These are just two of the recent product improvements enhancing the destination.
These investments follow the US$9 million upgrade of Coco Reef Resort and Spa in the middle of last year and enhancements to the PGA-designed 18-hole golf course at Tobago Plantations, Lowlands.

And the Shaw Park Cultural Centre, located on the outskirts of Scarborough, will open in January 2015.

The multi-purpose facility can seat up to 5,000 people for conferences and other events. Pigeon Point Heritage Park can now offer a variety of wedding packages given its expanded facilities.

The THA has also signed purchasing agreements for Sanctuary Resort and Manta Lodge.
A planned upgrade at ANR Robinson International Airport, which Virgin has pressed for in the past, remains in the works.

Source: The Trinidad Express