Trinidad and Tobago will be the focus of the international heritage tourism community as the Caribbean nation plays host to the Travel Professionals of Colour (TPOC) 11th annual conference and trade show which will be hosted from July 30th to August 4th.
It is only the second time in TPOC’s history that the organisation will be hosting the conference outside of the United States and Trinidad and Tobago is extremely pleased to welcome the Travel Professionals of Colour conference as this event is expected to play a significant role in the growth of Trinidad and Tobago as a world heritage destination.
A team from TPOC participated in Trinidad and Tobago’s Emancipation festivities in 2012 and they will keep the momentum going as the conference is being held around this year’s Emancipation celebration on August 1st, 2013. The main conference activities will be held at the Hyatt Regency Hotel, however, delegates, their friends and families will be treated to heritage tours and other activities that highlight’s Trinidad’s heritage sites. Tobago is not to be left out as attendees will experience the sister island’s unique culture, heritage and historic sites as the conference comes to a hectic end at the Magdalena Grand Beach Resort in Lowlands, Tobago.
Growing from 20 attendees in 2003 to 300 in 2011 the TPOC conference provides evidence of the need for greater emphasis to be placed on targeting the minority travel market.
The founders of the Travel Professionals of Colour Charlotte Haymore, President and Betty Jones, Vice President of Membership and Finances felt that there was gap between the wider travel industry professionals and minority travel professionals. This enterprising duo started TPOC as a means of providing this group with the necessary tools to bring their businesses into a profitable position whilst increasing general awareness of minority travel professionals within the travel community.
A main feature of TPOC as an organisation is the development of a Heritage Tourism Specialist Certification Program for their membership which places special emphasis on Heritage Travel. Whilst tourism is one of the world’s largest industries, Heritage Tourism is a growing segment that boosts visitor arrivals to heritage sites and by extension destinations. Through this program, Trinidad and Tobago was authenticated and certified as a Heritage Tourist Site and this status has propelled the destination to recognition as one of the top ten heritage tourist sites in the world.
The TPOC conference and trade show is also considered to be an excellent networking opportunity for travel agents that influence the decisions of a growing minority travel market. According the Travel Industry Association of America (TIA), the African American travel market represents over $40 billion in sales annually whilst the Hispanic travel market represents about $42 billion in sales annually. Additionally, it was found that both African American and Hispanic travellers enjoy travelling as a group and engaging in activities such as family reunions and visiting cities of historical significance. Therefore, these two markets are integral to the growth and development of not only heritage tourism but also tourism on the whole.
Look out for updates on the TPOC Conference and Trade Show in Trinidad and Tobago from July 29th to August 4th 2013.
For more information visit www.tpoc.org.
