October 6, 2011

Led by a large increase in tourists from the United States, arrivals at the Providenciales International Airport were up 18 percent in the first six months of 2011 over last year, the Turks and Caicos Tourist Board has announced.

New flights by JetBlue from New York and Boston and by Continental Airlines from New Jersey are credited for much of the 23-percent increase in U.S. visitors, which accounted for 65 percent of all 222,596 arrivals in the first half of the year.

Canadian visitors increased only 5 percent over last year but showed large increases in both April and June. They accounted for 12 percent of all arrivals in the first six months.

In February 2012, the Turks and Caicos will welcome another inaugural flight from the east coast of Canada — Halifax. This new direct weekly service on Thursdays is expected to further increase the number of Canadian visitors.

European visitors were down 19 percent, representing only about 1.5 percent of all arrivals. The recently lengthened runway at the Provo airport is expected to increase European and other visitors because it will enable larger, long-haul flights to land, saving travelers time in layovers to get here.

All other countries showed a 15-percent increase and represented more than 21 percent of all visitors.

“The Turks and Caicos star continues to shine in the region, and the evidence is our sound arrival numbers,” said Director of Tourism Ralph Higgs. “We are encouraged by these numbers and excited about the upcoming 2011-12 season.”

“We urge residents, locals businesses to explore and embrace all the opportunities associated with the tourism industry,” he said.

Arrivals at the Grand Turk Cruise Center continued to grow, posting an increase of 10.5 percent over 2010. On Nov. 9, the center will welcome one of the largest ships in the world, Carnival Magic.

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Written by fp staff

August 4, 2011

On budget and on schedule, the first phase of the Providenciales International Airport expansion was declared complete Aug. 2, boasting a longer and improved runway and taxiways.

When it opens to flights next month, the 9,200-foot runway — an increase of 1,600 feet — will be able to accommodate direct flights of the largest passenger planes. That means travelers from far away can fly direct to Provo, saving days of layovers that they can spend instead in the Turks and Caicos Islands.

“It is a significant landmark in the history of air traffic in the Turks and Caicos Islands,” said His Excellency the Gov. Gordon Wetherell, who cut the ribbon marking the occasion.

“It is important that the airport be able to support and indeed facilitate the growth which we are experiencing in terms of visitor numbers and the growth which is expected to continue, encompassing both traditional markets in this hemisphere and ones further afield,” Wetherell said.

“Discussions are underway with a range of airlines, and I hope that we will soon be in a position to announce additional services to Providenciales from new markets and also new sources of revenue for the islands and our government.”

The $35 million project also was a big shot in the arm for local employment during recent rough economic times. Canadian contractor Dexter Construction and local subcontractors Cove Construction Ltd. and CBMS were required to use at least a 70 percent Turks and Caicos Islander workforce, but they managed to reach an impressive level of 94 percent.

Wetherell gave the lion’s share of credit for the success of the project to Turks and Caicos Islands Airports Authority CEO John T. Smith.
“It’s John Smith and his colleagues here who, before this project actually started, paved the way for this, made sure the objective was clearly set, and then worked hard and determinedly to achieve it,” the governor said after accepting a plaque from Smith commemorating completion of the first phase. “So when I put this up on my mantle piece, I will really think it should be on your mantle piece.”

Speaking to a large crowd in the international departure lounge of the airport, Smith said the project had to overcome many obstacles.

Those included Hurricanes Hanna and Ike in 2008, followed by a worldwide recession, then the elected government that started the project was removed from power in 2009 after allegations of corruption.

The airport required much more than just a longer runway, Smith pointed out. The drainage system was almost nonexistent, meaning a brief rain could flood the taxiways and nearby South Dock Road leading to Five Cays.

Now a state of the art system of rip-rap swales catches runoff that is filtered through an oil and sand grit separator into a settling reservoir. If that reservoir overflows, water goes into a vegetative settling area.

“There is no direct entry of any catchment water into the Chalk Sound National Park,” Smith assured.

More than 700,000 cubic metres of limestone quarry had to be excavated to lengthen the runway and reduce the height of a hill on the approach. What quarry wasn’t then used in construction has been stockpiled on the southwest side of the runway.

More than 7 kilometres of fence topped with barbed wire and razor wire was strung around the airport perimeter to meet international security requirements. New lighting was installed throughout the project.

The project’s contractors worked around the clock to complete the project without interrupting regular passenger flights, with the exception of one four-hour delay cause by rain.

“I’ve been enormously impressed by the speed with which the extension of the main runway, the necessary repairs … the relaying of the ancillary areas have been performed,” the governor said. “It has required flexibility from all users and stakeholders of the airport and its services, and we’re grateful for their patience in this process, and it’s completion on time is a credit to all those involved.”

The governor said the next phase of the project — building a new terminal — must get underway as soon as possible because the current terminal is at or beyond capacity without any new flights.

Blythe Clare of the Tourist Board described the completion of the first phase ass “one small step for Providenciales, one giant step for our destination.”

“This chapter puts the Turks and Caicos Islands, not next to, but alongside of our many competitors regarding direct opportunities of travel to their destination of choice,” she said.

The project took just over a year to complete and was funded by a $20 departure fee.

Photo: Taking part in the ribbon cutting ceremony for the completion of Phase 1 of the airport expansion are (from left) TCIAA CEO John T. Smith, government CFO Caroline Gardner, Gov. Gordon Wetherell and TCIAA Board Chairman Herbert Ingham. (Richard Green/Staff)

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Written by Richard Green, fp Staff

July 28, 2011

A go-to guide for vacation planners, Travel + Leisure’s top list is considered one of the best in the industry. This year, four local resorts grace the list, showing the world that the Turks and Caicos Islands is the place to be.

Amanyara, Grace Bay Club, Parrot Cay and the Regent Palms all made it into the Top 25 hotels in the Caribbean, Bermuda and the Bahamas list.

Amanyara and the Grace Bay Club were new to the list, while the Regent Palms and Parrot Cay both moved up the list from their 2010 spots, with the Regent Palms making it into the top 10.

“It’s clear that remote and exotic destinations — places that convey a sense of authenticity and adventure — are ruling the day once again in Travel + Leisure’s World’s Best Awards,” said Nancy Novogrod, editor in chief of Travel + Leisure.

The list is the cover story of the August issue of the magazine on newsstands July 22, and now featured in the first-ever World’s Best Awards 2011 iPad edition, available via http://www.TravelandLeisure.com/iPad and on the iTunes App Store.

For the 16th year, Travel + Leisure’s definitive list of the top hotels, cruise lines, airlines, car-rental agencies, outfitters, cities and islands is an essential index of the places you want to go and the best companies to take you there.

The list is compiled based on consumer responses to a questionnaire. The questionnaire was developed by the editors of Travel + Leisure, in association with ROI Research Inc. and made available to Travel + Leisure readers at TLWorldsBest.com from Dec. 1, 2010, to March 31, 2011.

Readers were invited to participate through Travel + Leisure magazine (January, February and March issues), T+L iPad editions (T+L 500 and Romance), and online atTravelandLeisure.com.

The fact that a boutique destination like TCI and its exclusive resorts were selected by the readers is a testament to the quality and uniqueness of the experiences delivered to the travelers.

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Written by fp Staff