Providenciales, 06 May 2015 – Rejoice but don’t relax because the demands on the industry will increase; a caution coming from the Governor, His Excellency Peter Beckingham. It seems H.E. is back in action and according to a report reaching our newsroom yesterday he is praising the recent accolades for the tourism industry while warning that there is still room for improvement. He said, and I quote: “I am constantly struck by how seldom visitors get beyond Grace Bay. I can understand that the typical 3-4 day American visitor may not have the urge to travel after arriving in Providenciales. But Grand Turk and the other family islands need to receive a higher profile, and as a result get more visitors than the tiny proportion they receive of stay-over tourists.” The governor revealed that he is also watching to see how Tourism will spend its boosted budget and how the country’s gateway will enhance guest services.
“I also would like to see an even more welcoming approach to visitors at Providenciales airport. They are literally the lifeblood of the prosperity or otherwise of everyone in the Turks and Caicos Islands. The heads of the public service and government departments, as well as the management of the Airport Authority, need to be constantly asking themselves whether there are ways to make the TCI welcome better than it is. There is still some way to go.” A candid presentation by the Governor to the Turks and Caicos Hotel and Tourism Association yesterday which is about a week away from a seven city tour or fam trip to North America.
