TCI News
TCI: Police warn of online fraud
#Providenciales, January 9, 2019 – Turks and Caicos – Over the past four years, the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force Financial Crime Unit have seen a major increase in internet fraud incidents. There have been two ways identified in which the fraudsters are able to perpetuate their schemes:
The fraudsters would send phishing emails to persons purporting to be from local banks here on the island, asking them (the victim) to update their online banking information. They (the fraudster) would ask that the customer provide the current user id and password along with their new id and password. Unsuspected customers would respond to the fraudulent emails believing they are on the banks’ website thereby compromising their account information. Now having access to the customer account, the fraudster would then send similar phishing emails to other customers of the same bank whether via email or Facebook offering employment to evaluate the effectiveness of money transmitters operating here in the TCI. However, in order to do so, the second customer would need to provide their bank account details to the prospective employer. Now armed with the online details of the first customer, the fraudsters would transfer funds from the first to the second account to have the funds wired by the second customer to various countries around the world. Persons receiving such employment offers should not accept these offers as they would only be enabling the criminals to commit the crimes.
Persons should never respond to emails purporting to be from your bank asking to update your online banking information. Banks would never ask you to update your online information as this is solely your discretion. If uncertain please contact your local bank.
The police have also noticed that fraudsters are believed to be intercepting email communications of persons here in the TCI wiring funds to businesses or individuals. Having done so they would create an email address identical to one the individual in the TCI has been communicating with in an effort to control all future communications. The fraudsters would then direct the individuals in the TCI to wire the funds to a different location than that which was first agreed. This can and has resulted in substantial loss to customers in the TCI.
The police are urging all persons and businesses to pay particular attention to the email address that is directing 
them under these circumstances and not to wire funds unless the intended recipient of the funds is contacted by phone and details are confirmed. Carefully examine the email address that is instructing you to wire the funds, the slightest of change from the original email is a red flag.
Residents are also reminded to be very careful when making purchases online especially when the person or business advertising the item/s for sale is asking for the funds to be sent to a different location from which the item/s are located or would be shipped. Telephone conversations and other verification process are crucial in order to prevent loss.
In any doubt please contact the Financial Crime Unit at 649 941 4450 or any local law enforcement.
Release: TCI Police
Almost two million visitors recorded in 2025
PROVIDENCIALES, TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS – The Turks and Caicos Islands saw an increase in stayover arrivals in December, seven percent higher than the corresponding period in 2024.
Preliminary data suggests that stay over arrivals by air for the month of December was 66,427 in comparison to 62,610 in December 2024.
From January to December 2025, preliminary visitor arrival numbers totalled 640,754; on par with the number recorded for the same period of 2024.
Stay Over Arrivals YTD December 2024/2025
The first quarter of the calendar year attracted the largest number of arrivals with visitor arrivals three percent higher than the first quarter of 2024. Reduced airlift from the United Kingdom and the United States, most notably the Virgin Atlantic and JetBlue services, was however felt from the second quarter (April to June). As a result, visitor arrivals dropped three percent in the second quarter.
By the third quarter of this year (July to September), geopolitical and economic conditions in the key source markets, namely the United States, led to further contraction of arrivals. In the last quarter of 2025, arrivals were impacted in October due to the passage of Hurricane Melissa but additional airlift from the USA and Canada resulted in an increase in arrivals in November and December.
Mr. Paul Pennicook, Interim CEO Consultant of Experience Turks and Caicos, said December’s increase in stayover arrivals is an encouraging indicator of the sustained interest in the Turks and Caicos Islands as a premier destination.
“While we note and continue to monitor geopolitical shifts that affect us, Experience Turks and Caicos is focused on increasing marketing initiatives in our primary source markets. We have spent the last two years investing in groundwork such as crucial travel advisor training to assist them in selling the destination more effectively. In the next fiscal, we will be building on those initiatives with co-op activities with partners as well as out of home advertising to increase visitation to our destination,” he said.
In Cruise, the preliminary count of passenger arrivals for the month of December 2025 was 129,346, a 22 percent increase over last December. This growth follows the berthing of 11 additional ships in Grand Turk this month.
From January to December, the cruise sector continued to outperform the same period last year, as the 1.3 million total cruise passengers recorded, marks a five percent Year-on-Year increase. 
The cruise sector experienced significant growth in the first quarter of 2025, with passenger arrivals surpassing last quarter by 53 percent. In the second and third quarter however, several cruise lines adjusted their itineraries as vessels were pulled from the fleet or from the Caribbean region, which resulted in fewer passengers.
Arrivals dropped seven percent and 10 percent in the second and third quarters, respectively. Double digit growth was recorded in the last two months of Quarter 4. This growth however, was not sufficient to outweigh the drop in arrivals experienced in October, following the cancellation of cruise calls due to the passage of Hurricane Melissa. Despite the late-quarter rebound, arrivals for the final quarter of 2025 closed six percent below the same period in 2024.
News
The Department of Trade, Industry & Fair Competition to Host Export Readiness Workshop Under the theme “Empowering TCI Businesses for Local Growth and Global Markets.”
Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands – Wednesday, 11 February 2026: The Informal Settlements Unit (ISU) coordinated a multi-agency enforcement operation on Thursday, 29 January 2026, led by the Planning Department, with support from the Crown Land
Unit, the Turks and Caicos Islands Border Force, and security provided by the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force. The operation, carried out at three different locations in Providenciales, formed part of ongoing government efforts to address unauthorised development and illegal occupation of land in accordance with governing legislation.
The operation commenced in Blue Hills, where five Section 58 Enforcement Notices were issued on unauthorised structures identified on Block and Parcel 60502/48.
Enforcement activity then moved to a second location off the Leeward Highway near Caicos Lodge, where six Section 58 Enforcement Notices were issued on additional unauthorised structures on Block and Parcel 60802/66.
The final phase of the operation took place in The Bight, where three unauthorised structures were removed, with all debris cleared from the site in keeping with established safety and environmental protocols.
The Informal Settlements Unit remains committed to working alongside its partner agencies to support lawful development, protect public and private land, and ensure that planning regulations are enforced in a coordinated and transparent manner across the Turks and Caicos Islands. Similar joint operations will continue as part of the Government’s wider strategy to address unauthorised development and informal settlement activity.
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