Tour operators call for reopening of Bush Bush Sanctuary

The Trinidad and Tobago Incoming Tour Operators Association (TTITOA) is pressing authorities to reopen the Bush Bush Sanctuary, a popular eco-tourism site within the Nariva Swamp. The sanctuary has been inaccessible due to concerns over yellow fever activity, a situation the association argues is harming local businesses and communities.

According to TTITOA vice president Stephen Broadbridge, the extended closure has led to immediate tour cancellations, directly affecting the income of individuals reliant on the sector. The association highlights that these tours are crucial for the sustainable livelihood of community members surrounding the sanctuary. They also point out that eco-tourists are typically well-informed and often vaccinated, minimizing public health risks.

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The current blanket suspension of access has resulted in the immediate cancellation of tours, directly affecting income for those dependent on the sector.

Stakeholders are questioning the proportionality and effectiveness of closing just one site, especially since both howler monkey populations and mosquito vectors, potential carriers of the virus, are present in multiple regions across Trinidad. "This raises a critical issue of consistency and impact," an unnamed tour operator was quoted as saying, suggesting that a nationwide risk does not necessarily translate to improved safety by limiting access to a single location.

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This raises a critical issue of consistency and impact.

The TTITOA is advocating for a more balanced, evidence-based approach. Recommendations include strengthening public health advisories that encourage or require visitor vaccination and implementing clear risk communication strategies. "The virus cannot be geographically confined to Bush Bush Sanctuary alone. A broader, more practical approach is needed, one that protects public health while also considering the sustainability of the tourism sector," the association stated.

The Bush Bush Sanctuary was closed and entry permits suspended in March 2026 after reports of yellow fever activity, including the confirmation of the virus in a deceased howler monkey. Broadbridge noted that guided tours have operated in the sanctuary for over 30 years, forming a vital part of community-based livelihoods. He recalled a similar concern over a decade ago, involving deceased howler monkeys attributed to the disease, during which tours continued and the outbreak subsided naturally without reported infections.

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The virus cannot be geographically confined to Bush Bush Sanctuary alone. A broader, more practical approach is needed, one that protects public health while also considering the sustainability of the tourism sector.