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New Year’s Day Around the World, who got to 2024 first?

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Dana Malcolm

Staff writer

 

January 1, 2024 – As we welcomed the year 2024 on Monday January 1, some fireworks went off before others, as they do every year, but what determines who celebrates the new year first?

The short answer is time zones and the International Date Line.

United Kingdom

The Date Line is the internationally accepted boundary between one day and the next and sits halfway around the world from the Prime Meridian.  Generally, if a map was spread flat, with the IDL in the middle; to the west of the Date Line would be eastern countries like Russia, New Zealand, and Japan.  To the right, are Western countries including the Americas and some parts of Europe and Africa.  However, one would find there are even some of the easternmost countries that lie just to the right of the line, like American Samoa.  It means despite sitting right next to each other Kiribati and American Samoa are generally the very first and very last countries respectively to experience the new year.

The IDL is not legally binding, and countries can make requests to be on either side.  In fact, Kiribati used to be bisected by the line, with some of its islands celebrating the new year first,  and others much later.  Following a request to include all of its islands on the western side of the line the country officially became the first to celebrate New Year’s each year.

There are 38 time zones.  Each time zone celebrates New Year’s Day in a staggered motion.  Time Zones are listed below with some of the countries that fall into each, and the corresponding TCI time when they hit the 12 am mark.

UTC+14:00 including Kiribati at 5 a.m. Sunday

UTC+13:45 including sections New Zealand at 5:15 a.m. Sunday

UTC+13:00 including Tonga at 6 AM on Sunday

UTC+12:00 including Fiji at 7 AM Sunday

UTC+11:00 including the Solomon Islands at 8 AM Sunday

UTC+10:30 including Australia at 8:30 AM Sunday

UTC+10:00 including Papua New Guinea at 9 AM Sunday

UTC+09:30 including at 9:30 Northern Australia AM Sunday

UTC+09:00 including at  Japan, Korea (N&S), and Russia 10 AM Sunday

UTC+08:45 including Western Australia at 10:15 AM Sunday

UTC+08:00 including China at 11 AM Sunday

UTC+07:00 including Thailand at 12 p.m. Sunday

UTC+06:30 including  Mynmar at 12:30 p.m Sunday

UTC+06:00 including Bangladesh at 1 PM Sunday

UTC+05:45 including Nepal  at 1:15 PM Sunday

UTC+05:30 including India at 1:30 PM Sunday

UTC+05:00 including The Maldives at 2 PM Sunday

UTC+04:30 including Afghanistan at 2:30 PM Sunday

UTC+04:00 including the UAE at 3 PM Sunday

UTC+03:30 including Iran at 3:30 PM Sunday

UTC+03:00 including Kenya  at  4 PM Sunday

UTC+02:00 including South Africa and Greece  at 5 PM Sunday

UTC+01:00 including Germany Frances and Denmark at  6 PM Sunday

UTC+00:00 including The UK, Ghana, and Ireland at  7 PM Sunday

UTC−01:00 including The Cabo Verde Islands at 8 PM Sunday

UTC−02:00 including Brazil at 9 PM Sunday

UTC−03:00 including Argentina and Chile at 10 PM Sunday

UTC−03:30 including parts of Canada at 10:30 PM, Sunday

UTC−04:00 including Barbados, and The Dominican Republic  at 11 PM Sunday

UTC−05:00 including The Turks and Caicos, The United States, The Bahamas, Jamaica, and Cayman at 12 AM Monday

UTC−06:00 including Belize at 1 AM Monday

UTC−07:00 including parts of Mexico at 3 AM Monday

UTC−08:00 including the Pitcairn Islands at 3 AM Monday

UTC−09:00 including Alaska at  4 AM Monday

UTC−09:30 including French Polynesia at 5 AM Monday

UTC−10:00 including Hawaii at 5:30 AM Monday

UTC−11:00 including American Samoa at 6 AM Monday

UTC−12:00 including uninhabited islands at 6 AM Monday

Huge celebrations were held in almost every location.

Kiribati has become a niche tourist destination for those who want to ring in the new year first.

Fireworks and drone shows populated the globe, going off one after the other with sometimes as little as fifteen minutes in between time zones.

Exciting and by now, we are all well into the Year 2024!

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Beaches Turks & Caicos wrapped up another successful Provo Men’s Premier League season  

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PROVIDENCIALES, Turks & Caicos Islands: — Beaches Turks and Caicos continued its strong commitment to sports development in the Turks and Caicos Islands with its sponsorship of the 2025/2026 Provo Men’s Premier League, a partnership that has significantly elevated the competition for a second consecutive year.

The season, which saw an increase in participating teams and heightened competitiveness across the league, has been widely regarded as one of the most successful in recent years. The top honours were shared between two of the league’s most dominant sides, SWA Sharks FC and Academy Eagles FC, both delivering consistent and high-level performances throughout the campaign.

Turks and Caicos Islands Football Association (TCIFA) Technical Director Dane Ritchie highlighted the critical role Beaches Turks and Caicos played in strengthening the league’s structure and overall quality.

“The sponsorship from Beaches Turks and Caicos for the second year helped tremendously in making the competition a success,” Ritchie said. “This season we were able to have a more structured programme with the inclusion of youth talents coming to the fore, as well as the improvement of the coaching staff for the different teams being certified by Concacaf.”

Ritchie noted that the enhanced organisation of the league created more opportunities for emerging players, while also raising the standard of coaching and match preparation. The integration of youth talent into senior teams was particularly impactful, signaling a positive shift toward long-term player development within the territory.

Provo Men’s Premier League President Patrick Baptiste echoed these sentiments, describing the season as a milestone for both football and youth advancement in the Turks and Caicos Islands.

“This was a very good year for football and youth development,” Baptiste said. “We were able to overcome a few challenging moments, but the overall grade for this season is an A.”

Baptiste emphasised that the continued support from Beaches Turks and Caicos has been instrumental in driving the league forward, providing much-needed financial backing and stability.

“With a title sponsor like Beaches Turks and Caicos providing the financial support again for this season, we are grateful,” he added. “We have come a far way and we still have a way to go, but the TCIFA team has been charged to continue to be creative in our marketing and being more inclusive in how we seek to showcase the talents of the TCI.”

Beaches Turks and Caicos Resort General Manager Deryk Meany also expressed satisfaction with the partnership and the overall progress of the league.

“Our commitment to youth development and the growth of sports and community throughout the TCI is of paramount importance to us as an organisation,” Meany said. “We are satisfied with this partnership and being the main sponsor is a major accomplishment for the resort. We are happy to have fielded a team this season that was placed fourth in the knockout round of the competition. We are seeking to continue to provide growth for our team members as well as the development of talent throughout the TCI.”

The 2025/2026 season also reflected broader efforts to professionalize football operations locally, including improved scheduling, officiating standards and fan engagement initiatives. Matches drew increased attendance, while community interest in the sport continued to grow, particularly among young athletes aspiring to compete at higher levels.

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Platinum Sponsor Beaches Turks & Caicos celebrates top Corporate Engagement title at DG’s 5K 2026  

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PROVIDENCIALES, Turks & Caicos Islands: — Beaches Turks and Caicos has been recognised with the corporate engagement award after fielding the largest number of participants in the second staging of the Turks and Caicos Islands Deputy Governor’s 5K Run/Walk, held recently.

The resort, which also served as a platinum sponsor for the event, mobilized an impressive team of 100 participants, demonstrating its strong commitment to community engagement, health, and philanthropy. Proceeds from the initiative will benefit three key organisations: the Turks and Caicos Islands Cancer Society, the United Way of the Turks and Caicos Islands and the Ashley Learning Centre.

General Manager Deryk Meany praised the collective effort of the Beaches team, highlighting the significance of the initiative both for employee wellness and community impact.

“This was a team effort that saw the resort mobilising a strong team to participate in this event,” Meany said. “It provided a healthy activity for participation as well as giving back to a worthy cause. Congratulations to the Deputy Governor and her organising team for staging such a successful event.”

Participants from across various departments joined the early morning run/walk, showcasing camaraderie, determination and a shared commitment to making a difference.

Hotel Manager Ghislain Boutoulle described the event as both physically rewarding and meaningful.

“The route was very good. It was challenging at first but once I got the pace of the run, it was a good morning workout that was done for a worthy cause,” Boutoulle shared. “The Beaches team were well organised and showed the grit and determination to complete the run.”

For many team members, the experience extended beyond fitness, offering opportunities for personal connection and memorable moments. Soraha Jolly from the resort’s entertainment department highlighted the event’s emotional significance.

“This was good. I got the chance to participate with my mother and we ended the run feeling healthy,” Jolly said. “The event was a combination of partnership, healthy lifestyle and camaraderie. I am looking forward to the next staging to be the first to register for the Beaches team. It was a great experience for the entire team, but a very special one for me and my mom.”

Deputy Governor Her Excellency Anya Williams commended all participants and sponsors, with special recognition given to Beaches Turks and Caicos for its outstanding contribution.

“The three beneficiaries for this year’s staging were carefully selected to benefit from this event,” the Deputy Governor noted. “Giving back to the community, providing support for health through the Cancer Society and building a strong platform for education with the Ashley Learning Centre allowed the team to give back to a great cause.”

She continued, “We are grateful for all our sponsors but a special commendation to our platinum sponsor, the Beaches Turks and Caicos team, for not only donating but having the largest contingent of participants for this event. This is what true partnership looks like as we continue to build a strong relationship to make our community and the Turks and Caicos Islands better.”

The Deputy Governor’s 5K Run/Walk continues to grow as a signature community event, promoting wellness while raising critical funds for organisations that support health, education and social development across the islands.

Beaches Turks and Caicos’ strong showing this year underscores the resort’s ongoing commitment to corporate social responsibility and community partnership. With its record participation and enthusiastic team spirit, the resort has set a high benchmark for future events, reinforcing its role as a leader in both hospitality and community engagement in the Turks and Caicos Islands.

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Experience Turks and Caicos and Statistics Authority Publish Latest Visitor Exit Survey Report    

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Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands (June 16th, 2026) — Experience Turks and Caicos, in collaboration with the Statistics Authority, has announced the completion and publication of the latest Visitor Exit Survey Report, providing enhanced insights into visitor behaviour, spending patterns and overall travel experiences in the Turks and Caicos Islands.

The Visitor Exit Survey is a joint initiative designed to better understand the characteristics of visitors to the destination, including their travel motivations, length of stay, expenditure, satisfaction levels and perceptions of the Turks and Caicos Islands as a tourism destination.

While exit surveys have been conducted in previous years, this latest publication marks a significant enhancement in the way tourism data is collected and shared. It introduces a new quarterly reporting framework, with surveys conducted at the end of each quarter and findings published on a more frequent basis throughout the year.

This improved reporting cycle is intended to provide more timely and actionable insights to support tourism planning, policy development, marketing strategy formulation and broader industry decision-making.

“The Statistics Authority is pleased to partner with Experience Turks and Caicos on the Visitor Exit Survey program,” said Mr. Shirlen Forbes, Director. “As tourism remains the cornerstone of our economy, reliable and timely data is essential for understanding visitor behaviour, measuring tourism’s economic impact and supporting informed decision-making. We value our ongoing collaboration with Experience Turks and Caicos and believe these quarterly reports will provide stakeholders with valuable insights to help guide the future growth and development of the industry.”

Miss Sharissa Lightbourne, Marketing Intelligence Manager of Experience Turks and Caicos, noted that the expanded approach will allow government and industry stakeholders to better track trends in visitor behaviour and assess the economic contribution of tourism beyond traditional arrival statistics.

“Data is the foundation of informed decision-making and plays a critical role in shaping the future of our tourism industry. The insights contained in this report provide a deeper understanding of who our visitors are, how they experience the destination, and how they engage with our tourism product. This information is invaluable to our hotel partners, service providers, investors and other stakeholders as they refine their business strategies, enhance the visitor experience and identify new opportunities for growth. I would like to thank the Statistics Authority for its continued collaboration and commitment to strengthening tourism intelligence in the Turks and Caicos Islands. I encourage everyone in the industry to download the report and explore the valuable insights it contains,” she said.

The findings will also support more targeted destination marketing efforts, improved visitor experience initiatives and more informed investment decisions across the tourism sector.

Experience Turks and Caicos and the Statistics Authority reaffirm their commitment to strengthening tourism intelligence and ensuring that stakeholders across the industry have access to reliable, timely and relevant data.

Download the report here: https://issuu.com/myexperiencetci/docs/tci_departing_visitor_survey_report_q1_2026

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