Where were all the tourists?

[Zora Lawrence]

This isn't meant as a whinge, just an observation. There were hardly any tourists in Tobago - especially the Crown Point area. Of course we didn't go there to be with other tourists but we went to hotels for happy hours and we were the only ones drinking. This also happened a few times in various restaurants - Mr L and are have passed the stage when we want to gaze into each others eyes - we both like to people watch - and there weren't any! We spoke to quite a few people on the beach and they all said that their hotels were 3/4 empty. I thought it was supposed to be high season?
Cheers
Zora

[Steve Wooler]

Zora, shame on you. I would have hoped that the magic of Tobago would have meant that you would only have eyes for each other, despite the passage of time. Obviously not enough rum in the punch.

Seriously, though, I do know exactly what you mean. We've been here for three weeks and I've got the feeling that it's quieter than this time last year. However, I understand that the visitors are here - its possibly that they are just a lot more scattered around the island with so many apartments and villas opening up and also a lot more restaurants. Maybe in our own small way myTobago is disseminating the information that helps visitors to get out and about. The manager of one apartment hotel that we stayed at recently reckons that 60% of his guests say they've got a copy of our restaurant guide when he offers them a copy.

It's lovely in one respect, but being an ardent people-watcher myself, I know exactly what you mean.

[Zora Lawrence]

We did go and people watch in Scarborough at cafe Ciao - it's in a great position to sit and watch the world go by. I felt sorry for the Tobago economy with the hotels being so empty. I thought the locals were very friendly and helpful (except for the aloe vera Rasta on Store Bay beach!!) and we did go to Pigeon Point although felt a bit guilty doing so - it's a difficult one - beautiful spot - should be open to everyone. I did look out for you whilst we were over there Steve - but didn't see any beards at all!
Thanks once again for all the help that you have given us to make our holiday really great
Cheers
Zora

[Steve Wooler]

Cafe Ciao is certainly a great place to relax and watch Scarborough life.

As I say, the island is far from empty. We've visited most of the big hotels. Its a very mixed story. Some are rubbing their hands together in glee, others are saying where is everyone. The lowest occupancy rate we've come across is 64% and two major hotels are 98%. Most will be full next week, but that's because of Carnival, so that an exception.

So maybe we'll bump into you in future years.

Enjoy!!!

p.s. You certainly wouldn't have seen me at Pigeon Point. I think I would risk serious injure (if only verbal) were I to step anywhere near the place.

[Horst Heiser]

Hallo Zora,
don´t look for Steve anymore. The photo, he published on his site, is from his early fourties.
Indeed, he is a little bit vain.
I´m in fear for his reply.
Greetings fom cold Germany

Horst

[Paul J Corney]

This was a reoccurring theme throughout our two weeks in Tobago though people I know in the Government tell me that this year there are more visitors.

The common grouse among the local taxi drivers and vendors is that the "All inclusive" establishments have these missing people and are not letting them escape unescorted!

Certainly when travelling about we saw more cars being driven by tourists than ever before and at most of the restaurants we used we had to book to get a table. Indeed we saw more people on Mt Irvine Golf course than ever before and for the first time ever since we've been comng La Tartaruga was full with 33 diners!

Villas were (are) selling / Sanctuary is about to start on the Hotel and has completed the sale of its final show houses and certainly there is interest in acquiring property among expatriates.

There are more flights than ever and more are planned from the US and Germany.

So I think more people stay in Villas / Apartments and those that stay at the Hitlon / Coco Reef et al are being actively discouraged from leaving.

[Glyn Kirpalani]

Hi Horst

Message from Steve Wooler, who cannot send you a reply since he is in idyllic exile reviewing Canoe Bay - he reminded me that it is his policy to display a very old photograph so that he can discretely review restaurants and other establishments, without being easily recognised (or poisoned/extra sauce if he did a bad previous review is my best guess!).

Steve doesn't strike me as vain in any physical sense, although he has a healthy writer's ego!

Regards

[Brian Taylor]

Now we have the answer...they where all on the Mt Irvine Golf Course...
We could not find them, too. A few of them made it out of the Crown Pint Area to Castara. A nice place if you like to watch a mix of locals and tourists!
By the way, are you all only watching people at the Ciao Cafe? Im eating ice cream and drinking cappuchino there once a week. What a taste!!!!

Steph

[Steve Wooler]

Hi Horst

I am convinced from all our correspondence that you were simply teasing and that your message above might have suffered in translation. I am simply fascinated to know how you knew as I believe you are back in Germany now, so haven’t met me yet?????

Fear not, I assure you that it was not vanity. Glyn was partially right, but the answer was also laziness. The honest truth is I hate having photos taken and am always behind the lens rather than in front of it. The photo I previously used on the site was a formal portrait taken many years ago and is truthfully the most recent “portrait” shot I have. The few other shots are in group shots at family weddings, etc. Yes, Glyn is also correct in that I preferred to be able to go into restaurants unrecognised and the photo helped in that respect.

Now that my cover is blown, I’ve decided it’s time to show you what the old fart really looks like. Don’t say that this photo is and ‘old’ one – it was taken less than 40 minutes ago, just as the sun was setting here in Tobago.