Above: Tobago (CJ Photo)

By the Caribbean Journal staff

Tobago is looking to step up its competitiveness in the cruise ship market, according to Oscar Brathwaite, administrator of the island’s division of tourism and transportation.

While the island’s location to the far south of the region puts the island “at a disadvantage among potential cruise ship destinations,” he said the island recognizes “the value of welcoming and hosting visitors.”

“In order to counter the disadvantage, we have to be creative,” he said at this month’s Sea Trade Caribbean Cruise Forum. “In the industry, we strive to develop our creativity by improving on our tourism packages and our tourism offerings.”

Tobago’s cruise sector is slated for a major boost next year when Carnival returns to the island.

The cruise giant will be visiting the island as part of some of its longer Caribbean itineraries that include Eastern Caribbean destinations like Dominica, Martinique and Grenada.

That will bring around 10,642 Carnival passengers to Tobago in 2016.