Senator the Honourable Randall Mitchell, Minister of Tourism, Culture and the Arts is currently leading a delegation from the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago at the World Travel Market 2024 in London, United Kingdom. The delegation includes Chief Secretary of the Tobago House of Assembly Mr. Farley Augustine and Ms. Tashia Burris, Secretary of Tourism, Culture, Antiquities, and Transportation of the Tobago House of Assembly. World Travel Market London is the leading international travel event connecting the tourism industry; unlocking business opportunities for inbound and outbound tourism professionals.

At this year’s World Travel Market event, Minister Mitchell was proud to receive, on behalf of Trinidad and Tobago, Lonely Planet’s prestigious Award as number seven in their top 30 countries for Best in Travel 2025. This recognition reinforces the country’s status as a premier destination for travellers seeking authentic and unforgettable experiences.

In the 15th edition of Lonely Planet’s Best in Travel guide, thirty (30) “must-visit” destinations were featured globally. Trinidad and Tobago earned its place, standing out as the only Caribbean destination to be featured in the country category and praised for its rich culture, breathtaking natural landscapes and renowned hospitality.

Minister Mitchell remarked, “This is a proud moment for our twin island nation. Being named in Lonely Planet’s Best Countries to Travel in 2025, puts us on the map in an exciting way. Our country has so much to offer, and this global recognition is a perfect opportunity to shine a spotlight on everything from our unique cultural heritage, rich history, breathtaking landscapes and beautiful people. I wish to congratulate those who represent our tourism sector and everybody who continues to promote the positive attributes of our twin-island destination, while making our country an attractive world-class destination. This is a source of great pride for us Trinbagonians.”

Lonely Planet’s team of international travel experts carefully selected the winning countries based on their unique offerings, emerging trends and overall appeal to travellers. However, the inclusion of Trinidad and Tobago in the 2025 Best in Travel list was largely due to the efforts of local writer and published Guidebook Author with Lonely Planet, Ms. Tenille Clarke. As a proud Trinbagonian Tenille’s ongoing travel research includes culturally immersive opportunities such as, the recently concluded Heritage Press Trip hosted by Tourism Trinidad Limited.

Lonely Planet praised the country’s vibrant food scene, which is a fusion of African, East Indian, French, Spanish, English, Dutch, Chinese and indigenous influences. The travel guide highlighted Carnival as a major attraction. For eco-tourism enthusiasts, they recommended hiking, turtle-watching and exploring Trinidad’s Asa Wright Nature Centre for bird-watching. The guide also featured the unique and sacred Temple in the Sea as “a colourful, octagonal-shaped structure that sits on a causeway in the Gulf of Paria”.

To further promote their 2025 Best in Travel guide, Lonely Planet executives appeared on the popular Good Morning America television show. When asked about the country category, executive editor Nitya Chambers singled out Trinidad and Tobago stating, “For us, Trinidad and Tobago is a really exciting pick. Obviously, it’s well known for Carnival, which takes place in March of next year, but I think the food influence of Trinidad and Tobago, with its indigenous food, African culture, European culture, South American, Asian influences, it’s really just a melting pot of cuisine and food experiences.”

This award creates significant opportunities for Trinidad and Tobago’s tourism sector and its global impact. The Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago is committed to sustainable tourism that respects our environment and elevates the local economy, while building upon this international recognition. We invite the world to come, explore, and discover the magic that lies within our shores.