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Turks & Caicos Islands Triumphs at 2020 World Travel Awards Caribbean Gala

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Minister of Tourism Hon. Ralph Higgs and Chairman of TCI Tourist Board Adelphine Higgs-Pitter accept the awards for Caribbean’s Leading Beach Destination 2020 and Caribbean’s Most Romantic Destination 2020 for the Turks and Caicos Islands.

#PROVIDENCIALES, Turks and Caicos Islands (January 22, 2020) – The 27th Annual World Travel Awards Caribbean Gala was held on January 20, 2020 at Sandals Royal Bahamian in Nassau, Bahamas. The Turks & Caicos Islands once again captured the prestigious awards for Caribbean’s Leading Beach Destination 2020 and Caribbean’s Most Romantic Destination 2020.

The entertainment at the 27th World Travel Awards Caribbean Gala included Junkanoo

In addition to the above awards won by the destination, several Turks & Caicos Islands resorts were awarded as follows:

Ø  Turks & Caicos’ Leading Boutique Hotel 2020 – Beach House

Ø  Turks & Caicos’ Leading Car Rental Company 2020 – Hertz

Ø  Turks & Caicos’ Leading Destination Management Company 2020 – Olympia Destination Management Company

Ø  Turks & Caicos’ Leading Hotel 2020 – The Palms

Ø  Turks & Caicos’ Leading Hotel Suite 2020 – Three Bedroom Executive Penthouse at The Shore Club

Ø  Turks & Caicos’ Leading Resort 2020 – Amanyara Villas

Ø  Caribbean’s Leading All Suite Hotel 2020 – The Palms

Ø  Caribbean’s Leading All-Inclusive Family Resort 2020 – Beaches Turks & Caicos

Ø  Caribbean’s Leading Boutique Hotel 2020 – Point Grace

Ø  Caribbean’s Leading Hotel Suite 2020 – Grace Bay Penthouse Suite at Grace Bay Club

Ø  Caribbean’s Leading Luxury Island Resort 2020 – Sailrock Resort

The ceremony, which celebrates excellence in the travel and tourism industry, was attended by Caribbean Ministers and Directors of Tourism, industry leaders and international media. The Turks & Caicos Islands delegation was led by Minister of Tourism Hon. Ralph Higgs and included Chairman of the Tourist Board Adelphine Higgs-Pitter, Board Member Kendra Parker and USA Regional Marketing Manager Pamela Ewing.


L-R: Pamela Ewing, USA Regional Marketing Manager; Leandrea Missick, Ministry of Tourism Executive Administrator; Hon. Ralph Higgs, Minister of Tourism; Graham Cooke, Founder of the World Travel Awards; Adelphine Higgs-Pitter, Chairman of the Tourist Board; and Kendra Parker, Board Member of Tourist Board.


Graham Cooke, Founder, WTA, said, “What an incredible evening it has been here at the magnificent Sandals Royal Bahamian to mark the opening of our 27th annual Grand Tour. We have had the privilege of recognizing the Caribbean’s leading destinations, hotels, resorts, airlines and travel providers and my congratulations to each of our winners.”

Representatives of Sailrock Resort at the World Travel Awards Cocktail Reception.

Minister of Tourism Hon. Ralph Higgs stated, “It was my pleasure to have accepted the World Travel Awards on behalf of the Turks and Caicos Islands we are extremely honored. Being recognized as the Caribbean’s most romantic destination in particular, is an excellent attainment as we have taken steps to position the destination as a preferred wedding and honeymoon destination. These achievements are testament to the commitment and hard work of our amazing team and partners, who continue to work diligently in promoting brand TCI”.

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Chairman of the TCI Tourist Board Adelphine Higgs-Pitter said, “I wish to express my sincere thanks to the general public for voting for the Turks and Caicos Islands in all eight categories that the destination received nominations in. We are thrilled that Turks and Caicos won and maintained the awards for Caribbean’s Leading Beach Destination and Caribbean’s Most Romantic Destination which demonstrates the service consistency and product quality of brand Turks and Caicos”.

The Turks & Caicos Islands, as a destination, has won the World Travel Award for Caribbean’s Leading Beach Destination every year since 2015. From 2012 to 2014 the award for Caribbean’s Leading Beach Destination was won by Grace Bay Beach specifically which seized the title from Negril, Jamaica. The 2020 nominees for Caribbean’s Leading Beach Destination were Anguilla, Antigua & Barbuda, Aruba, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Jamaica, Martinique, The Bahamas, Trinidad & Tobago and U.S. Virgin Islands.

This year marks the second win for the destination as the Caribbean’s Most Romantic Destination. Turks and Caicos Islands won the award in 2019 for the first time, capturing the title from Antigua and Barbuda who held the coveted title every year since 2015. The nominees for Caribbean’s Most Romantic Destination 2020 were Anguilla, Antigua & Barbuda, Aruba, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Jamaica, St Barth, St Martin, The Bahamas and U.S. Virgin Islands.


Graham Cooke, Founder of the World Travel Awards and Gordon Butch Stewart, Chairman, Sandals Resorts International

The World Travel Awards Grand Final Gala Ceremony 2020 will take place in Moscow, Russia on Friday, 27 November 2020 and the Turks and Caicos Islands expects to receive nominations in several world categories.

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The Department of Trade, Industry & Fair Competition to Host Export Readiness Workshop Under the theme “Empowering TCI Businesses for Local Growth and Global Markets.”

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Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands, February 12, 2026 — The Department of Trade is pleased to announce the launch of its Export Readiness Workshop Series, a key component of its Trade Technical Assistance Programme.

This workshop series will address priority areas critical to small business development in the Turks and Caicos Islands, offering practical guidance and hands-on support in the following areas:

  1. Standards and Quality – Identification of and compliance with regulatory and market requirements
  2. E-Commerce and Digital Trade – Expanding access to regional and international markets

The workshops will be held February 24–27, 2026 and will be delivered in an in-person, interactive format.  Each session is tailored to specific business sectors to ensure targeted support and practical application.

  1.  Workshop 1 – February 24, 2026 | Agricultural Activities and Light Manufacturing (Food & Beverage)
  2.  Workshop 2 – February 25, 2026 | Light Manufacturing (Arts & Crafts)
  3.  Workshop 3 – February 26, 2026 | Light Manufacturing (Clothing, Jewelry & Apparel Accessories)
  4.  Workshop 4 – February 27, 2026 | Light Manufacturing (Cosmetics & Skin Care)

Entrepreneurs and business owners are encouraged to take advantage of this opportunity to enhance their operational capacity, improve export readiness and position their businesses for sustainable growth.

To register, please complete the registration form via the following link Capacity Building & Export Readiness Workshop – Fill out form

For more information, please contact the Department of Trade, Industry and Fair Competition.

☎️Phone: (649) 338-3703

Email: tradetci@gov.tc

Stay updated on announcements by following @tcidepartmentoftrade on Facebook, Instagram, and @MadeInTCI on   TikTok

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Experience Turks and Caicos and Aquila Host Product Development Workshops to Strengthen Sister Islands Tourism  

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PROVIDENCIALES, TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS – Experience Turks and Caicos, in collaboration with the Aquila Center for Cruise Excellence, successfully hosted a Product Development Workshop for tourism stakeholders from North Caicos, Middle Caicos, and South Caicos on Wednesday, January 14 and Thursday, January 15, 2026.

The workshop was designed to support tour operators, entrepreneurs, and tourism-related businesses as they adapt to the evolving demands of the global tourism industry. Participants engaged in hands-on exercises and structured sessions aimed at reimagining existing tourism products and developing new, innovative, and sustainable experiences that are market-ready and aligned with current visitor expectations.

Throughout the workshop, attendees were equipped with practical tools and strategies to develop high-impact tourism offerings, strengthen product packaging and pricing, assess market readiness, and enhance value creation. Emphasis was also placed on collaboration, partnership development, and the promotion of sustainable practices to ensure that the Turks and Caicos Islands remain a fresh, competitive, and appealing destination.                                                                                                                                                                                            More than 20 participants representing tourism businesses across the islands took part in the training sessions.

“Experience Turks and Caicos has a responsibility to ensure that all communities across the Turks and Caicos Islands benefit from tourism. These workshops are designed to equip local businesses with the essential tools and knowledge needed to maximise the opportunities within the industry, and we look forward to supporting their continued growth,” said Mr. Paul Pennicook, Interim CEO Consultant.

Speaking on the importance of the initiative, Candesha Mills the Product Development Manager at Experience Turks and Caicos said: “We are actively working on destination development by supporting our stakeholders as they reimagine their products and experiences. Workshops like this are critical to helping businesses identify opportunities for collaboration, create bundled offerings, and develop cohesive tourism experiences that align with emerging trends and evolving visitor expectations.”

The workshops were facilitated by Ms. Ambra Attus, who guided participants through strategies for designing distinctive and engaging tourism experiences that resonate with today’s travellers.

She said: “Product development is where destinations truly define their identity, and these trainings are designed to help operators in North, Middle and South Caicos create experiences that are not only market-ready, but meaningful, high-quality, and rooted in what makes these islands truly special. These sessions reflect a forward-thinking commitment by Experience Turks and Caicos to invest in their people and in the long-term quality of the destination’s tourism product. Aquila is proud to be your training partner.”

The workshop also featured the Invest TCI MSME Team, who were on site with an information station available throughout both sessions. Stakeholders had the opportunity to engage directly with the team, gain insights into the MSME Programme, and learn more about the range of support services, incentives, and resources available to assist business growth and development.

Experience Turks and Caicos commended participants for their commitment to investing in their businesses and contributing to the continued enhancement of the destination’s tourism product. The organisation expressed appreciation for the active participation and innovative ideas shared during the session, which are expected to contribute meaningfully to the sustainable growth of tourism in North and Middle Caicos and South Caicos.

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Illegal Structure Removed During Crown Land Enforcement Exercise in Five Cays  

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Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands – Thursday, 5 February 2026: The Informal Settlements Unit (ISU), in collaboration with partner agencies, coordinated a multi-agency enforcement exercise on Wednesday, January 28, 2026, at Silverado Wells in Five Cays.                                                                                                                                                                The exercise was led by the Crown Land Unit, pursuant to its statutory mandate under the Crown Land Ordinance to prevent squatting and encroachment on Crown land. The ISU coordinated the operation, with support provided by Immigration and Border Services, while the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force ensured security throughout the activity.

The enforcement action followed a series of inspections conducted by the Crown Land Unit throughout Five Cays, which identified an illegal concrete structure on the subject parcel. In keeping with the provisions of the Crown Land Ordinance, a Section 22 Notice of Illegal Occupation was posted on the structure. Following the failure of the responsible party or parties to comply within the prescribed timeframe, enforcement action was authorised.

The Informal Settlements Unit reiterates that these coordinated enforcement exercises form part of the Government’s ongoing efforts to uphold the law, protect Crown land, and manage informal settlements in a structured and lawful manner. Members of the public are reminded that unauthorised occupation and development on Crown land is unlawful and subject to enforcement action.

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