Port Of Spain Tourism and Travel Guide

Port of Spain, also written as Port-of-Spain, is the capital city of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago and the country's third-largest municipality, after Chaguanas and San Fernando. The city has a municipal population of 36,963 (2011 census), a metropolitan population of 128,026 (1990 unofficial estimate) and a transient daily population of 250,000. It is located on the Gulf of Paria, on the northwest coast of the island of Trinidad and is part of a larger conurbation stretching from Chaguaramas in the west to Arima in the east with an estimated population of 600,000.The city serves primarily as a retail and administrative centre and it has been the capital of the island since 1757. It is also an important financial services centre for the Caribbean and is home to two of the largest banks in the region.The city is also home to the largest container port on the island and is one of several shipping hubs of the Caribbean, exporting both agricultural products and manufactured goods. Bauxite from Guyana is trans-shipped via facilities at Chaguaramas, about 8 kilometres (5 mi) west of the city. The pre-lenten Carnival is the city's main annual cultural festival and tourist attraction.Today, Port of Spain is a leading city in the Caribbean region. Trinidad hosted the Fifth Summit of the Americas in 2009 whose guests included US President Barack Obama and US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Port of Spain also hosted the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in 2009 and hosted a Commonwealth Business Forum in 2011.Port of Spain is also home to the biggest and most successful stock exchange in the Caribbean [TTSE]. The iconic Nicholas Tower, as well as other skyscrapers, are well known throughout the region. These buildings dominate the city's marvelous skyline. Some of the tallest skyscrapers in the region are located in Port of Spain. It became the new capital of Tinidad & Tobago. The former capital was St. James. Table 2, 2011 Census, from Ministry of Planning and the Economy, Central Statistical Office, Government of Trinidad and Tobago Halcrow Group (Trinidad & Tobago) Ltd. (December 2000). 'Greater Port of Spain Local Area Plan'. Retrieved 2007-05-14. 'Trinidad and Tobago – Country overview, Location and size, Population, Industry, Oil and gas, Manufacturing, Services, Tourism'. Nationsencyclopedia.com. Retrieved 2010-06-26. CIA World Factbook Trinidad and Tobago. cia.gov The website for the secretariat for the fifth summit of the Americas. fifthsummitoftheamericas.org The website of the secretariat for the CHOGM. chogm2009.org