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The Trinidad and Tobago Tourism Industry Certification (TTTIC) programme aims to provide a level of assurance that certified operators offer standardised quality of service. Certified operators are fully endorsed by the TDC, and the TTTIC logo is an effective marketing tool, which will confirm the credibility of the operator. The TTTIC programme is jointly implemented by the TDC, the Trinidad and Tobago Bureau of Standards – which conducts third party assessments with the TDC – and the Department of Tourism, Tobago House of Assembly.
What will TTTIC do?
- Improve and standardise the quality of products and services being offered to tourists and locals.
- Boost consumer confidence.
- Provide a level of assurance that services provided by certified tourism operators will meet expectations.
Who does it target?
- Tour guides. A tour guide is any individual who leads a tour party, provides general information, interprets, indicates and informs on items of interest along the way to and or at a tourist attraction.
- Tour operators. A tour operator is a company that provides a range of tour services for the international and / or domestic tourism market.
- Short-term motor vehicle rental operators. A short-term motor vehicle rental company is one whose primary business involves the short term rental of motor vehicles, usually registered as “R”, including cars, minivans, sport utility vehicles, and pick-up trucks.
What are the benefits?
Certification
- Tourism operators who meet the criteria will receive a certificate indicating that they are a quality service provider. Certification is valid for a period of three years after which re-assessment and verification is conducted to ensure continuous compliance with the same or higher criteria.
Enhanced credibility
- Operators will be recognised as quality providers through the use of the TTTIC logo, identification badges, and stickers.
Promotion
- Operators will be promoted on the websites of national tourism administrators such as the TDC, the Tobago House of Assembly and the Trinidad and Tobago Bureau of Standards.
- They will also be listed in the TTTIC-certified Tourism Operator brochure, which will be distributed at tourist information offices.
- Event planners will be encouraged to use certified operators.
Business development
- TTTIC provides a framework to improve the Tourism Operator’s business and customer service offering.
- Operators can also benefit from TTTIC’s sister programme, the Small Tourism Enterprises Project, which will provide training.
How to apply
All operators in the tourism sector and related industries can apply for TTTIC certification. The process is as follows:
- Purchase the TTTIC application package, which includes a copy of the relevant standard outlining all of the requirements, from the office of the Tourism Development Company Ltd, Maritime Centre, Barataria.
- Using the guidelines outlined in the standard, conduct self-evaluation and implement any requirements not met.
- Submit application form and all relevant documents to the TDC office (please see below as these differ depending on the type of operation), and pay fees.
- The TDC and TTBS conduct a joint certification audit of the applicant.
- Should there be any nonconformities arising out of the assessment, they must be corrected.
- Certificate is issued.
Please note that the processing of applications, and the scheduling and conducting of audits may take four to eight weeks. Certificates are valid for three years, and annual surveillance audits are conducted.
Required documents
Tour guides should submit the following documents with their application forms:
- Tour Guide Certificate. This is offered at accredited training institutions (e.g. Trinidad and Tobago Hospitality and Tourism Institute).
- Magistrate’s Guide licence.
- Job letter, if employed by a tour operator. The job letter ensures that the tour guide is covered by workmen’s compensation and his tour party is covered by Public Liability insurance.
- Personal Accident Insurance, if not employed by a tour operator. In the absence of a job letter (i.e. if the tour guide is not employed by a tour operator) then personal accident insurance is required. This type of insurance ensures that if the tour guide encounters injury due to an incident on his job, the guide will be appropriately compensated until his recovery.
- Public Liability Insurance, if not employed by a tour operator. This is to ensure that the tour party is covered by insurance for any accidents or incidents which may occur during the tour.
Tour operators and short-term motor vehicle rental companies should submit the following with their application forms:
- Approval for the place of business from the Town and Country Planning Division of the Ministry of Planning and Development.
- Public liability insurance (a minimum of $250,000).
- Value Added tax (VAT) Registration Certificate.
- Certificate of Incorporation.
For more information contact the TDC’s Quality Control Department at 675-7034 ext 308 (Tel), 675-7432 (Fax) or info@tdc.co.tt. You can also visit us at Level 1, Maritime Centre, 29 Tenth Avenue, Barataria. Our offices are open 8.00 a.m. to 4.30 p.m. from Monday to Friday.
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