#PROVIDENCIALES, Turks and Caicos Islands (November 3, 2020) – The Turks & Caicos Islands Tourist Board in collaboration with the Ministry of Tourism, Environment, Heritage, Maritime, Gaming and Disaster Management and the TCHTA will seek to reinforce and reignite an appreciation for Turks & Caicos among residents by encouraging domestic travel to discover the uniqueness of each Sister Island during its annual observance of Tourism Environmental Awareness Month (TEAM). Turks & Caicos also joins with its Caribbean counterparts to celebrate Caribbean Tourism Month throughout November.

During a press conference on November 2nd held at the Office of the Premier in Providenciales, a new TEAM theme was unveiled – ‘Rediscover Turks & Caicos’ which will be used for the next three years. The previous theme ‘Tourism Is Key, It Starts With Me’ has been retired after five years.

The other highlight of the event was the commemoration of the 20^th anniversary of the TIDES program. TIDES, which stands for Together Individuals Delivering Excellent Service, began as the TCI Host Training Programme in September 2000. The training program was created to enhance the Turks and Caicos’ visitor’s experience by raising the level of customer service to complement Turks and Caicos’ position as a premier holiday and investment destination. The program has seen thousands of civil servants, public service drivers and private sector employees benefit from the customer service course. To mark the occasion, the Tourist Board used the opportunity to honor its Training Manager Ms. E. Blythe Clare who has championed the program is recognized as an exemplary ambassador for Turks & Caicos.

Minister with responsibility for tourism and environment Hon. Ralph Higgs officially declared Tourism Environmental Awareness Month open and stated, “Our environment and tourism sector are vital to our country. I want to encourage the general public, across the length and breadth of the Turks & Caicos Islands, to not only remember the importance of our tourism industry but also the bedrock of that industry is our environment. We each have an important role as caretakers and custodians in ensuring that it is protected. These are indeed challenges times, however, brand Turks & Caicos is still trending positively in the world. Notwithstanding COVID-19, we continue to see strong interest in our destination. I believe that as soon as the pandemic subsides, we will see more visitors returning to our shores, and Turks and Caicos Islanders regaining their rightful place as participants and contributors to our economy.

I encourage residents to rediscover the beautiful islands that God has blessed us with in this archipelago. Go and experience the quaintness of Salt Cay, the elegant and rustic beauty of Grand Turk and indulge in the opportunities and possibilities that exist in South Caicos. North and Middle Caicos are the gem among these islands and I believe the future of the tourism industry lies within them. Providenciales, of course is the breadbasket of the country, and all of our Sister Islands are available for you to explore and enjoy. Due to the pandemic the government has put regulations in place to mitigate against the spread of the virus, however, please ensure that as you travel domestically you are following all the protocols outlined to safeguard your health.”

The Tourism Environmental Awareness Month events will be mainly hosted virtually and will include:

·         Virtual Tour of Grand Turk on November 9^th

·         Rediscover Turks & Caicos: Back in the Day Island Experiences on November 10^th

·         Virtual Tour of Junkanoo Museum on November 11^th

·         Virtual Tour of Cheshire Hall Plantation on November 13^th

·         Nationwide Clean Up and Drive-by Giveaway on November 14^th

·         Virtual Tourism Symposium on November 18^tth

·         Rediscover Turks & Caicos: Island Delicacies on November 25^th

As part of the month’s celebrations, Turks & Caicos Islands residents and students are encouraged to ‘Rediscover Turks & Caicos’ in a creative sense by participating in a video and art competition. The video competition is open to the general public to submit a video based on the theme while fourth to sixth grade students are invited to submit visual art interpretations of the theme. The winners of both competitions will receive cash prizes. Criteria for entry and submission guidelines are available on our website https://turksandcaicostourism.com/tourism-month/.

Follow the Turks and Caicos Tourist Board’s public relations unit via its Facebook page ‘Turks and Caicos Tourist Board Press’ for live streaming and updates on all TEAM events.