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Banner Year!  Record Tourism Numbers for Turks & Caicos

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#TurksandCaicos, January 15, 2022 – The Turks and Caicos Tourist Board is pleased to announce that 2021 was one of the most successful years on record. This, not only owing to the destination being open for business as of July 2019, but due to the Tourist Board’s continued marketing the country as safe for travellers.

The Board was instrumental in welcoming two new carriers: Frontier Airlines out of Orlando, Florida and Sun Country Airlines from Minneapolis, Minnesota. This, in addition to helping to negotiate the return of Southwest Airlines from Fort Lauderdale, Florida. What is more, there was the resumption of service from Toronto with Air Canada and British Airways (BA) from London Heathrow. The Tourist Board also had marketing partnerships with BA and Air Canada, affording travellers in the UK, EU and Canada the opportunity to discover, book and fly to TCI!

The last quarter of the year, September to December 2021, saw an average increase in arrival numbers of approximately 122,289 for 2021, versus 116,338, an upsurge from 2019 numbers of the same period. These preliminary numbers reflect the continued advertising and promotions initiatives carried out in collaboration with our wholesaler partners, travel advisors, hotel partners and airlines.

The Board organized familiarization and press trips from the US and UK markets. These trips showcased the country, providing partners with in-depth knowledge on the destination and our various product offerings, with the view of promoting the TCI on to their clients and in their publications.

This past year marked record tourism in the Turks and Caicos Islands, along with record publicity for the destination across the United States, our leading market generator. The Turks and Caicos Tourism board developed and executed diverse multi-faceted public relations plans and strategies to expand upon the Islands cachet as a world-class luxury vacation destination, having with affordable options and offerings for all.

The Tourism Board has been aggressive with advertisement, that resulted in notable placements in the UK publications: Travel & Leisure, Food & Travel, Conde Nast Traveller and Travel Weekly magazines; and in the US: Travel + Leisure online, Conde Nast Traveler (print and online), Forbes online, USA Today, ELLE online, Harper’s Bazaar online, CNN Travel, CNBC Travel, The Washington Post online, Brides online, PEOPLE Magazine online, MSN, Time Out, Marie Claire online, JustLuxe, Departures, TripSavvy, TravelPulse, Travel Weekly, Caribbean Journal, and The Points Guy, among others.

The Tourism Board exhibited at trade shows and roadshows in the United States, United Kingdom and France. Showcases focused on luxury, cruising, diving and water sports, weddings, honeymoons, adventure and eco travel.

The Turks and Caicos Islands Tourism Board is proud to have won multiple awards from Caribbean Journal this year, chiefly: Providenciales being named the Best Island in the Caribbean to Visit in 2022; Luxury Destination of the Year; New Hotel of the Year won by The Ritz-Carlton Turks & Caicos; and Caribbean Tourism Director of the Year.

“The record number of traveller arrivals, advertisement placement, events and activities, accolades, in conjunction with our partner collaboration, is indicative of the work that the Tourist Board has been building upon and will continue to do,” said Pamela Ewing, Director of Tourism. “We have been steadfast, contentious and consistent in these trying times. We are cognizant of the travelling publics needs, and we strive to inform them not only of our destination, but keep them up-to-date on the various protocols with regard to entry and remaining safe.”

“2021 was indeed a banner year for us, and with hope, 2022 will be an even better year ahead, as we work toward not only increasing our arrival numbers, but bettering the product we have to offer”, added Miss Ewing.

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Grand Turk Police Honour Retirees While Extending Community Outreach

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Turks and Caicos, April 23, 2026 – A day of reflection, recognition and community service unfolded in Grand Turk on April 13, as officers of the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force visited retired and former members of the Force while carrying out outreach initiatives across the island.

The visits to past officers were marked by nostalgia and appreciation, with retirees sharing stories from their years of service and expressing gratitude for being remembered. Among those honoured was retired Superintendent Ralph Doughty, credited with helping to establish the Force’s cricket team, along with former Sergeant Conrad Thomas, former Inspector Benjamin Harvey, Corporal Leroy King, Sergeant George Worrell, Superintendent Marc Henry and Acting Inspector Tomiko Glinton.

The visiting team, led by Inspector Jeremy Jones and supported by Sergeants Kavin Mars and Aquina Martin and Constable Hussein Higgs, presented tokens of appreciation to Mr. Doughty and Mr. Glinton in recognition of their contributions.

The outreach extended beyond former officers, with welfare checks conducted for elderly residents including Yvonne Lightbourne, Pastor Mary Forbes and Edith Mesa, reinforcing the Force’s continued engagement with vulnerable members of the community.

In a parallel initiative, Constables Jeffrey Castillo and Demi Alexis visited Ona Glinton Primary School, where they delivered a “Good Touch, Bad Touch” session for students aged four to seven, focusing on personal safety and protection.

The combined efforts highlight an ongoing approach to policing in Grand Turk—one that honours the legacy of service while actively supporting the wellbeing and development of the wider community.

Developed by Deandrea Hamilton • with ChatGPT (AI) • edited by Magnetic Media.

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A Lesson in Nature: Sandals Foundation Takes Students on Mindfulness Nature Trail for Earth Day

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Students from the Enid Capron Primary school Environmental Club along with teachers and Beaches Turks and Caicos leaders pause to take a photo at the pine tree sculpture along the Grace Bay beach during the school’s Earth Day tour of the resort’s gardens and nursery  

CAPITAL, Island, April 22, 2026 — 26 students of Enid Capron Primary School joined over 300 children across nine Caribbean islands who stepped out of the classroom and into nature this Earth Day, as the Sandals Foundation rolled out a Caribbean-wide guided mindfulness programme designed to build environmental awareness and support mental well-being.

The activity which took place at Beaches Turks and Caicos resort gardens and plant nursery enabled students to connect directly with the island’s ecosystems engaging in breathing exercises, nature walks, sensory observation and discussions. The programme also sought to reinforce the role of nature in healing the body and mind as well as explore the everyday actions young people can take to protect their natural resources.

“By combining mindfulness with environmental education, we wanted to encourage students to slow down, be present, reflect, and appreciate the beauty of nature which is around them,” says Heidi Clarke, Executive Director at the Sandals Foundation. “We also wanted to share with students that sense of responsibility and power they each have to protect their community’s natural resources and the services those resources support.”

Allika Barthold, a grade six student shared her excitement following the tour. “It was beautiful. The team here shared a lot of information and taught us a lot about how important it is for us to take care of not only our planet, but our island home, Providenciales. The nature sculpture was one of the most exciting real life experience that I saw. It is protecting our shores, our ocean and our planet.”

Coordinated by Sandals Foundation Ambassadors at Beaches Turks and Caicos resort, the team of 12 volunteers led by Public Relation Manager, Orville Morgan said, “the mindfulness walk was an absolute success. Students were fully immersed in observing the plants and animals around them and their curiosity shined through the many questions they asked. There is no better way to learn about nature than to be in it and for that, I am very happy we were able to make this possible”.

Vice Principal, Nelene Swann noted, “the team at the resort was knowledgeable and were able to share environmental information with the children for them to understand. We got firsthand knowledge on the success behind what makes the resort picturesque. Beaches Turks and Caicos is environmentally aware and all the team members who participated were able to provide information that our students can practice at home to make our planet better.”

More than 300 students across Antigua, Barbados, St. Vincent & the Grenadines, Grenada, The Bahamas, Turks and Caicos Islands, Curacao, and Jamaica visited national parks, mangrove forests, Beaches Resorts gardens, and or national conservation areas, fostering a disengagement from digital devices and allowing time to decompress and connect with nature.

The activity, which fosters positive mental wellbeing forms part of the wider range of conservation work of the Sandals Foundation which has to date engaged 177,526 people in environmental education, planted 28,117 trees, outplanted 38,156 corals, invested in programmes that monitor the safe hatch of 221,392 sea turtles, and supported 23 marine and terrestrial protected areas.

Captions:

1st insert: The students from the Enid Capron Primary school received a surprise visit from one of their ‘furry friends’ from Sesame Street during the garden tour with Beaches Turks and Caicos Landscaping Manager Jason Yuille

 2nd insert: Students and teachers were locked in the presentation from Jason Yuille, Beaches Turks and Caicos Landscaping manager during the Earth Day 2026 resort tour

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NEW DESTINATION GUIDE BOOK ANNOUNCED FOR TURKS & CAICOS ISLANDS

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Turks and Caicos, April 23, 2026 – Experience Turks and Caicos is happy to announce that we have published a new destination guide to the Turks and Caicos Islands, designed to enhance the visitor experience while providing potential travellers with comprehensive and inspiring information on the destination.

The magazine was produced in collaboration with Greydoor Publishing, a UK-based company that partners with tourism boards across the Caribbean to create high-quality destination magazines and pocket guides.

Spanning 104 pages, the publication offers an in-depth look at the Turks and Caicos Islands, from its rich history and culture to the diverse range of activities and experiences available across the islands.

With the tagline “An Ocean of Experiences”, the guidebook, in keeping with Experience Turks and Caicos’ mission to promote the destination’s multi-island identity and ensure that all communities benefit from tourism, shines a spotlight on each island, highlighting unique experiences, locally owned restaurants, and homegrown entrepreneurs. It also serves as a practical planning tool, featuring curated three-day, seven-day, and ten-day itineraries to help visitors make the most of their stay.

The guide places a strong emphasis on culture, with a dedicated section outlining signature events held throughout the year, giving visitors a deeper connection to the rhythm and spirit of the islands.

To further enhance convenience, the publication includes QR codes that link to comprehensive listings of car rentals, taxis, and restaurants across the destination.

Minister of Tourism, Hon. Zhavargo Jolly, noted that the guidebook comes at a time when the destination is strengthening its presence in key international markets.

“We have made a clear commitment to strengthening our presence in key international markets, and this guide is an important part of that effort. It gives visitors a much fuller picture of who we are as a destination—not just our beaches, but our culture, our people, and the experiences across all of our islands. It helps us tell our story properly and ensures that more of Turks and Caicos is seen, experienced, and shared with the world,” the Minister said.

Interim CEO Consultant of Experience Turks and Caicos, Mr. Paul Pennicook, expressed pride in the publication, which marks the organisation’s first official guidebook.

“As we continue to expand the presence of the Turks and Caicos Islands at trade shows and conferences around the world, this guidebook will play an essential role in showcasing the destination,” he said. “I would like to thank all of the stakeholders who supported this publication through advertising, as well as Greydoor Publishing for working closely with our Public Relations Manager, Ms. Laura Dowrich, to bring this magazine to life.”

A digital version of The Turks and Caicos Islands Guidebook will be available on our destination website at www.visitturksandcaicos.com.

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