Air Turks and Caicos, the country’s only national airline, will start daily flights from Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic, to the popular Caribbean hub of San Juan, Puerto Rico, on April 15.

The ATC flights would all originate from Providenciales, offering connections between the TCI, Puerto Rico and points beyond in the Eastern Caribbean, subject to regulatory approvals.

ATC Chairman Lyndon R. Gardiner says this new route is an important step in realizing his dream to unite the Caribbean Islands through more convenient and expanded connections that promoted trade and tourism.

In late 2010, Jamaican authorities put a stop to Gardiner’s plans to offer expansion through Jamaica to other Caribbean nations with the addition of flights through Kingston.

Gardiner said he wishes that the separate Caribbean nations would focus more closely on cooperative marketing for the benefit of the entire region.

The announcement of the new route was made during a reception Jan. 17 hosted for the airline by the Dominican Tourism Authorities in Puerto Plata, attended by the Deputy Minister of Tourism César José de los Santos, the Chamber of Commerce as well as representatives from local hotel and tourism organizations.

The airline was represented by Gardiner, CEO Darrell Richardson, VP, Business Development Deborah Aharon and VP of Flight Standards Capt. Harold Williams.

Deputy Minister de los Santos thanked the airline executives for choosing Puerto Plata as their new gateway to San Juan and assured them that the initiative would have the full support of the Minister of Tourism Francisco Javier Garcia and his Ministry.

President of the Puerto Plata Chamber of Commerce Amaurys Plá also welcomed the company and noted that with the opening of the new route would also come new business opportunities for trading of goods and services as well as tourism, and reiterated his organization’s support.

Max Iglesias, president of the Northern Hotel Association, thanked the executives of ATC and said that he was pleased that the route would open up many potential connections with other Caribbean islands.

Roberto Casoni, president of the Hotel Association for the popular Playa Dorada region, said that the daily flights would offer more flexibility and convenience that he expected would result in longer stays by visitors.

Gardiner surprised and delighted the crowd by addressing them in their native Spanish, explaining the history of the airline, which started with a single piston aircraft in 1992 as InterIsland Airways. After changing the name to Air Turks and Caicos to better reflect this country’s identity and national pride, the airline continued to grow and now has a fleet of 15 mainly turbine aircraft, ranging in size from 9 to 30 passengers.

He also spoke about the long history of friendship and trade between the two countries, recalling the days of old when folks often sailed from North Caicos to the Dominican Republic in fishing boats to trade dried conch for produce and rum.

###
by fp Staff
fp Turks & Caicos

Starting next week, travellers will be able to escape the hustle and bustle of the Providenciales International Airport departure area and wait for their flights in elegant style.

The VIP Flyers Club, being called a service-conscious sanctuary, will open its doors Jan. 31 at the airport, giving travellers an option for VIP service for a fee.

The VIP Flyers Club will cater to travellers who need to relax and wait in style while escaping the confinement and hustle associated with airport terminals.

Olympia Destination Management Company, managers of the VIP Flyers Club, say the intimate and luxurious 15-guest lounge is uniquely designed to handle the demands of Turks and Caicos Islands travel.

Not only will the VIP Flyers Club cater to persons departing TCI, but will also offer a Fast Track Service which will see trained staff meeting and greeting passengers and assisting them through security, immigration and customs. The Fast Track Service will include private transfers, getting travellers and luggage to their private, licensed car service quickly.

“This is definitely a vision come to fruition,” said the managing director of ODMC. “ODMC is committed to providing travellers with a level of service unparalleled to others and saw the opening of a VIP airport lounge as a great opportunity to provide such a service.

“We have already received requests from companies to use the club for private functions, and we must thank the TCIAA for being very instrumental in making this enhanced passenger experience happen.”

For $40, passengers will be able to enjoy up to two hours of peace and comfort ahead of their journey while watching satellite TV, browsing the Internet or simply taking in the panoramic views of the runway while enjoying complimentary refreshments, newspapers and magazines.

The lounge will also offer access to a printer, loaner laptop computers and laptop trays, free international telephone calls, and is accessible to the disabled.

###
by fp Staff
fp Turks & Caicos

Provo Air Center was the busiest FBO in the world on Sunday, Jan. 2, according to flight support company Jeppesen Dataplan, which provides flight planning services to private and fractional aircraft worldwide.

Overall, PAC moved up from 10th to 6th busiest FBO for all their locations in 2010, but the FBO handled a whopping 113 private jets on a single day, jumping well ahead of the two usual hot spots in the Caribbean, St. Maarten and Nassau.

It was a new record and a big surprise to everyone, said General Manager Deborah Aharon. Some of the extra traffic was due to fuel shortages around the Caribbean, a possibility that PAC had anticipated.

“Every year some locations run out,” Aharon said, “and we saw an opportunity to position and promote Provo as the guaranteed fuel source.”

The company invested just under $1 million in a new fuel storage facility, finishing it just days before the holiday rush. It also studied historical figures around the Caribbean and consulted with its fuel partners and customers to accurately project how much extra fuel should be stored.

The extra effort paid off, as many locations ran low and aircraft had to be diverted to PAC for fuel, bringing extra revenue to the depleted government coffers through landing and other fees.

Aharon says that her staff and the customs and immigration officers assigned to the facility, as well as the air traffic controllers, did a superb job dealing with the extra loads. Their jobs were further complicated by bad weather in the U.S. and Europe, which delayed scheduled departures and eventually caused multiple flights to land in Provo at once.

“We would have a quiet 15 minutes, and then seven planes would all come down at once, and then a few minutes later another half dozen, and it was like that all week,” she said. “If we were that busy on the ground, can you imagine what it must have been like in the Control Tower with that many planes coming at you? We really have to applaud them.”

###
by fp Staff
fp Turks & Caicos

fp Turks & Caicos – December 31st, 2010

Thousands turned out to dance the night away in the streets and on the beaches of Grace Bay for 2010’s Maskanoo.

A blending of the traditional Christmas masquerade celebrations with elements of Bahamian’s Junkanoo, Maskanoo was born in the Turks and Caicos Islands, and judging this year’s success, it will be celebrated for many years to come.

They came from all walks of life to enjoy the fun and festive atmosphere along the main tourist stretch of Grace Bay Road.

Thousands of adults, children, tourists and residents walked, danced and partied in the streets during the first ever Maskanoo.
Presented by the Turks and Caicos Hotel and Tourism Association in conjunction with the Cultural and Arts Commission, Maskanoo was held on Monday, Dec. 27, in the tourist capital of Grace Bay.

Starting at 5 p.m., people began to stroll up and down the streets, mingling and trying the local fare.

Grace Bay Road was lined with vendors selling local food, beverages, arts and crafts, creating a carnival like atmosphere along the tourist strip.

Sounds filled the air, from traditional ripsaw music played by none other than the Island Boys to the amazing voice of Turks and Caicos’ own Barbara Johnson.

After the sun set over Grace Bay Beach, the night hit high gear. A vivid street parade, lead by Cultural Director David Bowen, thumped, jumped and whistled along Grace Bay Road.

Dozens of local musicians and dancers dressed in vividly coloured costumes, headdresses and masks where followed by hundreds of dancing party participants.

The night’s festivities were captured in lights with a miraculous display of fireworks over the beach at midnight. That is when the after party got started and went on through the night.

The 2010 Maskanoo was a fun, safe and celebrated local holiday, which organizers say will be celebrated each year on Boxing Day.
Official sponsors and supporters of Maskanoo 2010 included Royal Jewels, Islandcom, FirstCaribbean International Bank, International Banking Group, Bornewell Marketing Ltd., KBC Productions – 92.5 FM and 102,5 KISS FM, Tropical Imaging, Sky Juice – Got U Covered, Dove’s Security, Bangers & Crash Fireworks, Caribbean Cruisin, PPC Ltd., DJ Cliff and Radio Turks and Caicos.

Written by fp staff
Friday, 31 December 2010 16:21
#####

FP TURKS & CAICOS NEWS
Thursday, 28 October 2010 10:57

Continental Airlines announced this week that it will begin non-stop flights between its New York hub at Newark Liberty International Airport and Providenciales on Feb. 18, subject to government approval.

Initially flights will operate four times a week — on Mondays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays — converting to daily service on March 6.

“We are pleased to offer convenient access to Providenciales, a world-class getaway and an exciting new addition to the list of Caribbean destinations served by Continental and United,” said John Slater, United Airlines vice president of sales. “Our merger allows us to offer new flights to new destinations as we begin to efficiently utilize the combined fleet of both carriers.”

The approximately 3½-hour flight will depart Newark at 9:35 a.m. and arrive in Providenciales at 1:10 p.m. The return flight will depart Providenciales at 2:05 p.m. and arrive in Newark at 5:45 p.m.

Continental will use a Boeing 737-800 for the new service, with seating for 160 passengers — 16 in first class and 144 in economy.

“The government of the Turks and Caicos Islands welcomes the decision of Continental Airlines, a leading international airline, to operate nonstop flights between New York and Providenciales in time for winter travel,” said government CEO Mark Capes, now serving as acting governor. “Continental’s decision demonstrates continuing confidence in the TCI and in our tourism product.

“Tourism, as the predominant industry of the Turks and Caicos Islands and its main income generator, is an important part of the interim government’s agenda. With various initiatives, such as the Tourism Working Group, the aim is to grow, promote, and support the industry in order to expand the target markets and range of tourism activities. This in turn will provide economic stimulus in the hospitality sector as well as in retailing and other related activities.”

Written by fp staff
fp Turks & Caicos News
###

Amazing Bird-Watching in the Provo Outback, Turks & Caicos
Written by Kathleen Wood
Thursday, 09 September 2010
TCI Protected Areas

In the United States — the Turks and Caicos Islands’ primary tourism market — more than 50 million people claim to be birdwatchers.

Bird watching, or “birding,” is an environmentally sustainable activity that is a $25 billion/year industry in North America (Birdlife International Statistics).

As a country that boasts several internationally important bird areas, the TCI has the potential to become a prime bird watching ecotourism destination. Guided tours, kayaking adventures, automobile rentals, and sales of supplies and equipment like binoculars and field guides are just a few of the business opportunities that abound for creative entrepreneurs.

The best aspect of the birding industry is it requires no development. In fact, bird watching is best where people have left nature alone.

The vast, unspoiled terrestrial and wetland areas of the TCI are exceptional birding habitats where birds share similar histories with people. Some are snowbirds, who make the islands their home only during the winter months. The myriad wetland and shoreline habitats that meander throughout the island of Providenciales are the best place to catch a glimpse of winter visitors.

The Northwest Point Pond, and Pigeon Pond and Frenchman’s Creek Nature Reserves are outstanding venues for migrant sandpipers and plovers including but not limited to black-bellied plovers, lesser golden plover, semipalmated plover, spotted sandpiper, greater and lesser yellowlegs, dunlin and common snipe. The internationally vulnerable piping plover is rumored to stopover in these areas during the spring and fall migrations.

The undeveloped land areas of Providenciales are also a wonderful place to commune with birds during the winter months. The vast expanse of land areas encompassed within the Pigeon Pond and Frenchman’s Creek Nature Reserve and Chalk Sound National Park coupled with the vast frontier of the Northwest Point land areas serve as unfragmented refuge for an impressive variety of migrant perching birds, and the avid birdwatcher is certain to add a few names to their list in these areas. Northern parula, black and white warbler, Cape May warbler, American redstart and yellow-throated vireo are just a few of the numerous small perching birds that have been recorded.

The summer months see their own round of avian visitors on Providenciales. The white-tailed tropicbird nests in seaside cliffs such as those found along deserted shorelines at Long Bay Hills and West Harbor Bluff. Early in May, the voyeuristic birdwatcher can catch a glimpse of the aerial acrobatic mating behavior of these beautiful birds. Antillean nighthawk, gray kingbird, black-whiskered vireo and a number of terns are also TCI summer visitors.

In addition to seasonal visitors, TCI boasts a number of local specialties that are year-round residents. The Cuban crow is known only to the TCI and Cuba and is a common visitor to hotel and residential gardens where local fruit trees provide an opportunity for poaching by these voracious birds.

The Bahama woodstar hummingbird, endemic to the Bahamas and TCI is also a common visitor to local gardens, where it is attracted to brightly colored, nectar producing flowers. Other interesting local specialties include a local variant thick-billed vireo, western spindalis and pearly-eyed thrasher.

Every season offers something new for birding enthusiasts on the island of Providenciales. Armed with nothing more than a pair of walking shoes and a pair of binoculars, anyone can take off on an unparalleled adventure.

Charles Lindbergh, the great American pilot, reportedly said shortly before his death in 1974, “I realized that if I had to choose, I would rather have birds than airplanes.”

While man’s aspirations for flight are constrained within the confines of awkward flying machines of various persuasions, we can still watch the birds and dream of unencumbered flight.

Click HERE to read other articles in the TCI Protected Areas series.

For more information on Protected Areas, visit http://www.environment.tc/Protected-Areas-Division.html

Terrestrial ecologist and Master Gardener Kathleen Wood, B.Sc., is a Permanent Resident of the TCI, dividing her time between the Turks and Caicos and North Carolina. She is the author of many publications including the book, “Flowers of the Bahamas and Turks and Caicos Islands.” She has worked for the public and private sectors on many environmental projects in the Bahamas, TCI and U.S. She recently worked on a government project classifying and mapping the terrestrial habitats of the TCI. Anyone interested in discussion on a broad range of environmental issues can follow Kathleen on her blog at http://www.killingmother.blogspot.com.

###
fp Turks & Caicos