'Tobago needs a new airport, not patchwork'

ANR Robinson Airport Tobago

This is not what Tobago wants or deserves.

That is the view of Diana Hadad, a member of the Tobago Chamber of Industry and Commerce, on upgrades at ANR Robinson International Airport in Crown Point.

Her comments were made following a stakeholders' press conference on Wednesday at Coco Reef Resort in Store Bay.

A new ANR Robinson International Airport for Tobago is what stakeholders of the tourism industry are crying out for, said Hadad, but their cries have fallen on deaf ears as the Airports Authority of Trinidad and Tobago instead announced planned refurbishment works to the 30-year-old facility.

Hadad said the works were rushed and not what stakeholders wanted.

"We need a new facility and we don't need patching and fixing. Patching and fixing is what will take us through a short period of time, but I am not seeing the vision," said Hadad.

Kurt Ajodha, deputy chairman of the Airports Authority, said while the aim was to build a new airport for the long term, in the short term the Authority must be economical and efficient.

"We can't go and spend a lot of money to make a new facility not just in the short term, so in our short and medium term what we choose to do is renovate this facility in order to accommodate an increase in international passengers," Ajodha said.

No figure could be provided on the cost of repair work.

Nicholas Hardwicke, president of the Hotel and Tourism Association in Tobago, said while much more was needed at this time, the necessary repairs were better late than never.

"It's the start of a process and we would like to see them move to complete it as quickly as possible, so we can move onto the next stage, which is the expansion of the arrival and departure baggage claim facilities," said Hardwicke.

Within the next few weeks repairs are to commence on the roof, with modifications to the check-in counters and first class lounge departure and arrival halls.

All short-term projects are to be integrated with long-term design, construction and modification plans.

Repairs are being conducted by Zycovich Architects and Lee Young and Partners.

Reproduced from Trinidadexpress

Repairs for ANR Airport by December

ANR Robinson Airport
Crown Point Tobago

The first phase of improvements and enhancements scheduled for ANR Robinson Airport in Tobago is expected to be completed by December 15.

This from Airports Authority chairman Gerald Hadeed, following a stakeholders meeting and site visit yesterday morning.

"We're looking at expanding the terminal for international arrivals—which currently can accommodate approximately 150 persons comfortably—to be able to deal with double that amount.

"We've also earmarked several improvements to the existing structure, including replacing the roof—which leaks terribly at the moment—and hope to enhance the overall facility significantly by December 15," said Hadeed.

Members of the board of directors of the Airports Authority met with Minister of Tourism Stephen Cadiz and Minister of Transport Chandresh Sharma, as well as Tobago Organisation of the People Leader Ashworth Jack, Tourism Development Company (TDC) chairman Rajiv Shandilya and several engineers and consultants for a tour of the airport facilities at Crown Point, Tobago, yesterday.

Reproduce verbatim from Trinidad Express

International Shame of an International Airport.

ANR Robinson Internal Airport
Crown Point Tobago

The ANR Robinson International Airport (TAB) formally the Crown Point international is located at the South-western end the Island Tobago.  A mere 11/kilometers or 7 miles from the main town Scarborough, it serves as the chief gateway to its inhabitants and visitors alike. With just about 72 years since its was commission, this small, informal  airport has managed to maintain a zero casualty, with only minor situations occurring.  to date.

Over the years small changes have been made, such as the mid 80's upgrade for the terminal building, the expansion which finished in 1992 in order to accommodate wide winged aircraft and the 2000 and beyond where we've seen changes to taxiway repairs, upgraded electrical station, new domestic departure lounge, modernize aircraft control among others. However, these changes are vastly inadequate to the overall importance and true function of this Airport. In addition, the image of this so-called internally airport and the building's aesthetics leaves much to be desired.

Allow me skip to the last phase of a tourist's visit to Tobago. One that is marred with extreme heat, unprofessional security personnel, inadequate seating, and little variety for duty free shopping. As the last experience for any visitor to this country the Internal Departure Lounge at the ANR Robinson airport is in dire need of refurbishment. There is very little to do at the airport and even less in the Departure lounge, which has nothing but a small bar, a couple of souvenir boutiques selling t-shirts and local crafts, and a small duty-free shop with a limited choice (local rum TT$40-50 plus cheap cigarettes) but no electrical goods, watches or quality jewellery, etc. The departure lounge gets extremely hot and crowded, especially when in-transits are allowed to mixed with departing visitors, insofar that at times there are only standing seats.

This unpleasant, unattractive site affects the reputation of this tourist island, as persons must leave with a "sour taste" of how 3rd world, international airports are managed. Even more notable is how unkind this departure lounge is to persons suffering from disabilities, as they must make their way down at least 2 flights of stairs to get to ground level before embarking on the unfriendly journey through sun or rain to get to the aircraft.

It is high time that some meaningful changes be done to this Airport. What a Shame that Mr. Robinson's name must be on this rejected pavilion, something that is far less than the statue of man he is. Tobago's economy depends in most part on tourism, yet we continue to leave this bitter taste that is engraved in the memory of every visitor at the end of their sojourn. How counter productive and ill marketed can we get? We need to start with the basics when it comes to tourism. Tobago need to get it right. In a highly competitive and globalized world, we cannot continue with 19th century efforts, we must therefore employ and embrace modernize tactics if we are to survive in this epochs. As a young Tobagonians, I am appalled at  what we call an International Airport. Moreover, it is disheartening to deal with visitors who must constantly remind you with their murmurs and complains about how inadequate the facility is.

This beautiful island deserves better and it is quite clear that our tourism product is lacking in more ways than one. However, we need to aggressively build a 21st century tourism product and experience if we are going to continue to hold on to tourism as our main industry. Please I beseech the powers that be, Put a Hand, Save the island's Tourism.    


Written by O.J.Noel
10th July 2012