Every year, thousands of people travel to TT to take part in the cultural phenomenon that is Carnival.
People come, not only for the two-day street festival celebrated in Port of Spain, San Fernando and several towns, but for the events surrounding it.
Numbers from the Central Statistical Office (CSO) survey of 3,134 visitors in 2024 said people visited TT for an average of 13 days during the Carnival period. From as early as January, fetes and cultural events like Panorama fill the TT calendar making it a destination, not just for tourists but for returning visitors like, as the song says, “Lorraine,” who comes home for Carnival.
With the large influx of tourists, visitors and returning nationals come to TT for what is arguably one of the greatest festivals in the world.
But
there are several costs attached.
Industry professionals said to get the fullest experience of the festival including fetes, cultural events, food and accommodation, it could cost up to US$10,000.
“That is the cost for someone who doesn’t have family down here,” said Ronnie and Caro band leader Ronnie Mc Intosh. “We didn’t even count transport into that.”
The CSO said in 2024, the visitors surveyed spent $45.1 million, with $13.8 million on accommodation and meals and $20.4 million on entertainment.
Get your tickets early
Travel agents said that people get their airfare tickets and hotels booked as early as possible – as early as Ash Wednesday – for the following year.
Travel agents explained that while the prices of flights would not necessarily change, the number of people who come to TT for Carnival would mean that flights, hotels and accommodation would be booked much faster than other seasons during the year.
One travel agent said for flights to TT from Miami from February 26-March 5 on Caribbean Airlines, the cost would be around $8,089 (US$1,189). While searching he found one trip that had multiple stops for less.
[caption id="attachment_1141309" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Red Devil from Elements Mas Band with their Carnival Tuesday presentation The New Found Gems on February 13, 2024. - File Photo[/caption]
“Flights via Suriname, then Guyana, then into TT, that’s about $6,059 (US$892.19) and flights from Miami to Panama, then Panama to Port of Spain, then back to Panama and then Miami, cost $4,392 (US$646.72),” one agent told Business Day.
“Airlines would not sell all their seats on the entire aircraft for the same price. The cheapest price for a flight to and from Miami is about $1,898. They will sell ten seats at that price, then another ten at $2,500, then another ten at $3,000 and another at $4,000.
When booking hotels and accommodations it is also absolutely necessary to make arrangements as early as possible.
Business Day called the Hyatt Regency in Port of Spain and an attendant said for the Carnival season all 422 rooms are booked almost a year in advance.
Asked if hotel rooms were available, the attendant said that all hotel rooms were booked for this year’s Carnival in 2024.
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