TCI Tourism Industry In A Sizzling Comeback says Grace Bay Resorts

#TurksandCaicos, April 6, 2021 – The Turks and Caicos Islands’ tourism and hospitality industry in a major comeback following the government’s massive efforts to get the vast majority tested for Covid-19, and more than 40 percent of the population vaccinated.

After a year of uncertainty, strict Covid-19 restrictions, and a crumbling economy due to lockdowns and business shutdowns, the massive number of tourists visiting TCI signals new dawn.

In an interview with Fox Business reporter, Nakheel Advani, the Chief Operations Officer in Grace Bay Resort in the Turks and Caicos Islands, revealed they receive many calls each day as people continue streaming in for spring holidays.

Nikheel acknowledges the dramatic shift in the trend from about 10,000 guests last year (2020) to a huge influx in the past four weeks.

“The phones are ringing off the hook. We’ve had about a year, which has been quiet. We opened our shores in the Turks and Caicos Islands on July 22 (2020); it was slow to start with. But it gave us time to kind of understand how CDC guidelines are working, working with our Ministry of Health,” said Nikheel Advani.

“Our Governor, Nigel Dakin, took a very proactive role to open up the Island in the most sensible way. So, this is not new to all of us. Since then, we’ve got about 10,000 guests,” said Advani in response what the flock of travellers to islands of the Caribbean, in particular Providenciales, Turks and Caicos, means.

“It’s the thing you’ve mentioned, the pent up demand.  Our market is mainly the US, North Americans (and Canadians who haven’t been able to travel).  We have opened our doors from day one and said, Americans are welcomed.  There were so many places saying you can’t go here, you can’t go there.  We decided, you are our key market, let’s do this safely; we’ve got great advice from the CDC and our own Ministry of Health, so we’re going to do this with you.”

Even though it has been tough to find the rooms, the trend seems to carry on through the summer with the supply and demand conditions. 

More than a million people went through American airports informed the TSA; compared to the last year’s 331, 483.  As of March 23, the TSA recorded a total of 1,076 453 commercial airline travellers.

The overwhelming number of tourists received in the Turks and Caicos Islands is attributed to the ramped-up testing and vaccinations, making many guests feel comfortable and safe amidst the pandemic.