Managing built heritage for tourism in Trinidad and Tobago: challenges and opportunities

Abstract

Given its unique history, Trinidad and Tobago has a distinct and diverse cultural tourism product, which is a reflection of its Amerindian, Spanish, French, English, African, Indian, Chinese, Syrian and Lebanese heritage. Unfortunately, much of the focus is on the animated culture, specifically Carnival, which takes precedence over other forms of culture in terms of marketing and appropriation of funds. Consequently, inanimate cultural products, namely the architectural heritage and historic landmarks of the country are considerably neglected and inadequate provisions are made to ensure its preservation. The purpose of this research is to examine the management of built heritage for tourism in Trinidad and Tobago with a specific focus on identifying the built heritage resources of the country and identifying the challenges of its sustainable management. Qualitative interviews conducted with heritage tourism stakeholders indicate that a lack of appreciation of built heritage, as well as inadequate legal, institutional and financial frameworks are among the main obstacles hindering the development and growth of this niche market.