Turks and Caicos tourist arrivals increase during recession
Published on September 17, 2010
Caribbean News Now

PROVIDENCIALES, Turks and Caicos Islands — Despite the global recession, tourist arrivals in the Turks and Caicos Islands increased by 25 percent for the first half of this year when compared with the same period last year.

Ralph Higgs, Acting Director of Tourism for Turks and Caicos Tourist Board, said, “We are thrilled to see our arrival numbers for 2010 (first half) up 25 percent and we are optimistic that these numbers will continue to climb through the remainder of the year, except for the traditional slow months of September and October when many of our hotel partners close for repairs and refurbishment.”

Tourism arrivals for the first half of 2010 show the Turks and Caicos welcomed 489,069 long stay and cruise visitors. This number represents 167,057 long stay visitors for the first six months of this year, compared to 131,352 for the same period last year.

Between January and June this year, 322,012 visitors arrived by cruise ship, as against 258, 495 for the corresponding period last year.

During the first half of 2010, the TCI welcomed a total of 125 cruise ships, a 25 percent increase over the same period 2009, when the destination recorded 113 cruise ship arrivals.

The USA, Canada, Europe and the Caribbean remain the TCI’s major source markets. These markets have grown by 21 percent, 97 percent, 5 percent and 27 percent respectively.

Higgs said, “We are impressed by these increases and we feel this speaks to the strength of our tourism industries; airlift, accommodation, attractions both natural and man-made; and the hospitable nature of our people working directly and indirectly in our tourism industry.”

Additionally, officials in the Turks and Caicos Ministry of Finance confirm that increased tourist arrivals correspond with revenue collected from the accommodation tax for the same period in 2009.

The Turks and Caicos Hotel and Tourism Association (TCHTA) also confirms that unaudited occupancy figures amongst its members also show average increases of 11 percent for the first half of 2010, but admit that room rates have been discounted as a means to attract more guests.

Moving forward, the Tourist Board said it will continue to increase its presence within the market place, embarking on a series of travel and trade shows, sponsor and promotional events in the US, Canada and Europe and continue working with wholesalers and hotel partners to sell the destination.

The Tourist Board said it is also working to make the TCI more accessible from major gateways worldwide.
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