new shopping center

Cornelia Montgomery · Post by **Cornelia Montgomery** » Wed Feb 23, 2005 9:26 pm

I apologize if I'm posting old news, but I don't remember seeing a reference here before to the new shopping center being built on Claude Noel Highway, maybe a mile beyond the Hilton toward Scarborough. Construction is well underway, as we saw last week. Planned are a four-screen cinema and some local shops. Other tenants will be Burger King, Radio Shack, and Hallmark.

Paul Tallet · Post by **Paul Tallet** » Wed Feb 23, 2005 11:02 pm

Wow Cornelia.

This plus a 3rd Golf Course.

I think I will pop down to the estate agents offices to see if there is any real estate activity planned.

Something has to feed these developments ... so there must be something going on.

Regards

Cornelia Montgomery · Wed Feb 23, 2005 11:27 pm

The development puzzles me. Last week, I had a good conversation with the owner of my favorite souvenir shop. She was rather unhappy that the Tobago tourism authorities are concentrating on simply increasing the number of visitors. The problem, she said, is that Tobago may have 5,000 more visitors this year, but most are on cheap, all-inclusive trips and rarely leave their hotels. She said that local business people do not profit by the increase in visitors.
Few go out to independent restaurants, visit local shops, rent cars, etc.

A marina is planned at the Hilton development, but I don't know where the big-spenders are expected to come from. We stayed at the Hilton, and we noticed a big change this year among the guests. Fewer seemed to come to Tobago for its charms; most came for a bargain, and some complained even thought they received airfare and room for a week for US$1,200. Big family groups were common, taking over big spaces so they could all be together. I'm not sure where to stay next; I used to like the Courlan before it became AI; I love the Blue Waters, but I need some variety in eating places, etc.

Paul Tallet · Post by **Paul Tallet** » Wed Feb 23, 2005 11:35 pm

I can relate to your thoughts Cornelia.

Why don't you try Guesthouses? there are plenty of them around Tobago. OK they do not provide all the services but you get your bed and a roof over your head for starters.

I guess it's no different to going to a resort without AI.

Regards

Cornelia Montgomery · Thu Feb 24, 2005 12:00 am

I should have added that the souvenir-shop owner was looking forward to the new shopping center. People who live in Tobago, she said, want Radio Shack, etc. Now they must go to Trinidad for that kind of stuff. (In the area where I live, I can remember how excited I was several years ago when a Good supermarket opened.) I guess what I would wish for Tobago is a number of independent small hotels, offfering various degrees of amenities. I'm nearing 60, and I appreciate creature comforts more than I did 20 years ago. But I certainly don't need luxury. I like a good bed, good shower pressure, a balcony with a view, friendly people, etc.
By the way, why is the Hilton so often mentioned as a 5* resort? On the Hilton website, it's rated as a 4*, with the top being 6. Also AAA rates it as 4, and that's where it sort of belongs. Maybe a 3+. But where does that leave the other Tobago hotels?

Brian Taylor · Post by **Brian Taylor** » Thu Feb 24, 2005 1:09 pm

don't worry about who "feeds" the shopping center. the mentioned ventures are all something the island is missing for locals. it is really bad when you have to go over to trinidad for every little thing. we haven't been in the movies in ages.... and when you see KFC for lunchtime you know that a lot of locals love fast food. we can't wait to have this thing ready!!!
I don't know where the souvenir shop owner got it's information from... but beeing in touch with many guesthouses, we feel that tha touristes are spreading. they have to, according to the devision of tourism there are not enough hotel beds on the island to cater for all the flights. even not enough guesthouses for the peak of the high season to let people chose their destination in tobago. in the end you have to take what you get...
the impression not to get a share in a shop, restaurant or tour business can happen, but is not objective and mainly depends on, how much the touristes like to spend apart from accomodation. you have times of the year, when the island is packed, but everyone just wants to relax and noone goes on a tour...
next point for the souvenirs might be the increasing number of shops, so every single one might not get the same share like the years before...
would love to do some studies and statistics on that, because the ones from the tourism devision seem not too acurate...
anyway, let's see waht we'll get. so far the improvement did not change too much about the island and the atmosphere, let's hope it stays like that.

ENJOY