Tobago bags first Costa calls, 19,000 passengers expected

Tobago will take the place of calls that had been scheduled for Venezuela's Margarita Island.

Officials had visited Costa headquarters in June during Europe sales calls and surmise that helped put Tobago top of mind when an opportunity arose.

The calls are expected to bring a total of 19,000 passengers and mean that Tobago comfortably meets its cruise projections despite losing Royal Caribbean International calls. Another European operator scheduled for multiple visits this winter is TUI Cruises.

Tobago's marketing outreach has included Tourism Secretary Tracy Davidson-Celestine meeting with executives of the Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association lines during the FCCA's summer Platinum event in St. Croix.

Tobago transportation coordinator Samuel Henry and Miami-based cruise development consultant Henry Yaniz also participated in Seatrade Med in Barcelona last week, following their joint visits to European operators, including Costa, in June.

Tobago officials are scheduled to attend the FCCA conference and trade show in St. Maarten next month.