Tobago stakeholders have said the government’s decision to increase fuel prices would place further hardship on tourism-related businesses still reeling from the effects of the covid19 pandemic over the past two years.
In the Parliament on Friday, Finance Minister Colm Imbert announced that from April 19, 2022, the prices of premium gasoline and super gasoline will be adjusted by $1 per litre to $6.75 and $5.97 per litre, respectively, while the price of diesel will be adjusted by 50 cents per litre to $3.91 per litre.
Veteran tour boat operator Michael Frank said the move could be disastrous for the industry.
“We are already reeling from two years of not working,” he told Sunday Newsday.
With the recent removal of safe zones and covid19 restrictions in most sectors, including beaches and rivers, Frank, owner of Frankie Tours, said tour boat operators had anticipated an almost immediate increase in visitors wanting to go on boat trips to the Buccoo Reef and Nylon Pool.
But he said this has not been the case.
“The passengers are down right now but they are projected to go up as soon as Easter reaches.”
Frank, who has been in the business for more than 30 years, said many people want to go on reef tours but have no money to pay.
“People are coming on the boat but they have no money to pay for it. They literally begging us to go out on a boat trip. So, it is going to be very hard to balance it with the increase in fuel prices now.”
He added, “I don’t know how we are going to survive. We do not want to raise prices again because things are already hard for everybody generally.”
At present, a trip to the Buccoo Reef costs $150 for adults and $75 for children between the ages of three and 11. The operators do not charge for children under three.
Frank said adults rarely pay the $150.
“People really bawling. They literally cannot afford it.”
He said he recently had to accommodate a woman who had about six children.
[caption id="attachment_949006" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Michael Frank, owner of Frankie Tours in Tobago. -[/caption]
“She said it was the first time she brought them on a holiday in four years. She was the only person that paid. So, what you will do with them. You can’t just turn them away because they have no money. You have to give and take.”
With the prices of fuel set to increase in just over a week’s time, Frank said, “This adds to the pressure and the bottom line is that we have to find a way around it.”
He said he intended to meet with other boat operators on Saturday to discuss the future of the industry.
Saying the increase in fuel prices will hurt his colleagues, president of the All Tobago Fisherfolk Association Curtis Douglas repeated his call for a gas rebate for fishermen on the island.
If not, he said, the prices of fish will increase.
“The only thing I could see how fishermen could be comforted is if, especially our fishermen in Tobago, get
