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Long Stay Tourist Arrivals Up over 40% says TCIAA

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PLS Welcomes 24,102 Travellers

 

By Dana Malcolm

Staff Writer

 

 

#TurksandCaicos, January 23, 2023 – The Turks and Caicos Islands have successfully surpassed both pre-pandemic level arrivals and its 2021 banner year for visitor arrivals for the Christmas season. The statistics shared by Nikeva Ariza, Manager of Corporate Affairs and Communications for the Turks and Caicos Islands Airports Authority (TCIAA) may put the country on track for another record-breaking period.

In 2019 prior to COVID-19 being declared a pandemic, between December 24th and January 2nd 2020 there were 20,451 arrivals on 220 flights into the island.

In 2020 during the heights of the Coronavirus Pandemic that number dropped to a dismal 7697, plunging the Turks and Caicos into recession; the country recorded as among the hardest hit fiscally among tourism dependent economies. In 2020, tourism airport gateways were shut from April to July.

Following the introduction of the Coronavirus vaccine in December 2020, arrival of the first batch in TCI in February 2021 travel confidence was clawing its way back and tourism industry recovery saw some 17,112 travellers come into the Turks and Caicos on 227 aircrafts.

Again the new year, following the winter and cold and flu season, there was a surge in COVID cases, deaths and a far more contagious variant; omicron.  It was still no match, however, for the pent up demand and for the Turks and Caicos Islands, long stay visitors in the 2022-2023 holiday season exceeded the two best years on record for the country and attracted just under 7,000 more guests.

A massive 24,102 arrivals entered the Providenciales International Airport on 241 commercial flights. Hotels recorded positive numbers as well.

We spoke to Lindy Rigby of Grace Bay Resorts, who explained their arrivals were up to 90 percent with a good outlook for the first quarter.

The numbers were recorded even in the midst of a major winter storm in the country’s top market, the United States, which crashed airlines itineraries grounding hundreds of flights over the period.

The TCI also surpassed its Q1 record for tourist arrivals in 2022 easily fueling hopes of another brilliant year for the country’s leading industry.

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Millions to come from FSC 

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Dana Malcolm 

Staff Writer 

 

 

#TurksandCaicos, March 17, 2023 – Revenue from the Turks and Caicos’ Financial Services Sector will more than double in the next few years, if E Jay Saunders, Deputy Premier and Finance Minister gets his way.  It ‘s one of the reasons the country is investing so much capital into getting off of the EU blacklist and becoming a secure trustworthy financial destination. 

“The FSC’s revenues for 2020/21 was $10.5M— the figures for 2021/22, would be about similar,” he said.  He further explained that $10.5 million from the FSC represented about 2.6 percent of the country’s 408.5-million-dollar revenue.  Though it increased to $14 million in the 2021/22 financial year, finance is still a small fry compared to tourism or even stamp duties but that will change, says Saunders. 

“My revenue goal for the Government by the year 2029 [or] the election after the next election – is $500M.  By that time, I want the financial sector (FSC) revenues to represent at least 5% ($25M).  So that’s my goal for the financial sector by 2029.” 

This goal, should it be met, would increase the Government’s revenue by 100 million dollars, a significant increase in spending power for local upgrades and improvements for Turks and Caicos residents and visitors. 

Saunders says it’s time for the TCI to diversify its sources of revenue to make sure that what happened in the COVID-19 pandemic, which saw residents out of a job for months, will not happen again.  Tourism now makes up around 80 percent of the country’s GDP.  The Minister of Finance wants to push that down to 60 or even 50 percent.  

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Debrief on Haiti Caribbean heads visit 

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Dana Malcolm 

Staff Writer 

 

 

#Haiti, March 17, 2023 – When a CARICOM delegation visited Haiti earlier this month, conspicuously absent was the Turks and Caicos Islands despite being one of the nations most directly affected by the multi-dimensional crisis there.  There is no comment, as yet from the Premier, to say why this was the case.  

Still, from the expedition, CARICOM heads of Government have informed that there will be lobbying in Africa for assistance in Haiti.  They say they have decided that the best course of action for the Caribbean country is to bolster the Haitian National Police and act as intermediaries with Africa and the world.  The decision follows a one day visit on February 27th, and a March 5th meeting chaired by the Bahamas. 

CARICOM says during the trip delegates ‘met with a broad range of Haitian stakeholders to hear their views on the way forward to a Haitian-led solution’. With that in mind it has made a decision on how to proceed.

“The Heads of Government agreed to support the Haitian National Police in their efforts to address the security situation.  The focus of the Community will be the provision of training for the HNP and the provision of humanitarian assistance to HNP and the wider Haitian society, taking into account the challenging humanitarian and security situation”

It’s not clear yet where and how this training will take place.  Also distinctly absent from the report, no more mention of boots on the ground from other countries despite CARICOM Member States indicating they were ready and willing should it come to that.

In addition, recognizing ‘the common historical experiences and the strong African-Caribbean relationship’ CARICOM says,

“Heads of Government also agreed to seek support from African countries for Haiti.  They also agreed to work with the Governments of Canada and the United States as well as the UNDP”

Magnetic Media has reached out to the Premier’s Office to get a full debrief of the February 27th visit (led by Jamaica; including The Bahamas and Trinidad and Tobago) to learn of Turks and Caicos’ posture following the critical sessions.  

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New ASHLEY’S LEARNING CENTRE CONCERT

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Dana Malcolm 

Staff Writer

 

 

#TurksandCaicos, March 17, 2023 – Musicians from the New World Symphony will be in the Turks and Caicos in concert next month and residents are invited to attend in support of the future of Ashley’s Learning Center.

A fairly young orchestral academy based in Miami, the New World Symphony was launched in the 1980s by 1987, Michael Tilson Thomas and Ted Arison,Carnival Cruises founder.  From the 1500 applicants who vie for a spot each year, the symphony accepts around 35 music graduates annually for training fellowships. 

A select few of those graduates will be in country on April 8th headlining at the Ashley’s Learning Center concert ‘We’re all in this together’.  The concert which also feature local artistes will be held at Brayton Hall on Venetian Road from 6 pm to 8:30 pm

Tickets are available ON ISLEHELP  $75 PER GENERAL SEAT $125 PER PREMIUM SEAT $195 PER GALLERY SEAT – with /FREFRESHMENTS. 

For TICKET RESERVATIONs you can call: 649-341-2304 or email  EVENTS@ASHLEYSLEARNINGCENTER.ORG 

 

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