PROVIDENCIALES, TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS – The Turks and Caicos Islands has welcomed one million passengers in the first 10 months of 2024.

Minister of Tourism, the Hon Josephine Connolly

There have been 1,034,251 cruise passengers arriving at the Grand Turk Cruise Centre up to October 31^st, 2024, far surpassing the 924,250 total number of passengers that arrived in 2023.

“Grand Turk is on fire!” said Minister of Tourism, the Hon. Josephine Connolly. “Grand Turk has certainly seen an uptick in the number of ships and passengers arriving at the Cruise Centre throughout the year and this is supported by a recent BREA report showed that over the past year $116 million dollars was spent by cruise passengers, crews and the cruise lines. Experience Turks and Caicos, along with my Ministry, have taken note of the growth in our cruise sector and we are working to enhance our product offerings and visitor experiences with new initiatives and infrastructural enhancements to ensure Grand Turk remains one of the top ports for cruise lines.”

Over the past year, the Grand Turk Cruise Centre has welcomed new cruise lines in Royal Caribbean, and MSC Seascape.

As Experience Turks and Caicos seeks to capitalse on the growing popularity of Grand Turk, we are focused on creating new and enhanced offerings for visitors while ensuring our citizens benefit economically which serves our pillar of inclusive growth.

We recently collaborated with the Aquila Centre for Cruise to offer two workshops on Product Development and Vendor Excellence to encourage tour operators and vendors to strengthen their businesses and create new opportunities.

Experience Turks and Caicos has also launched a weekly food and culture fair called Taste of Turks which takes place every Thursday from 10 am to 8.30 pm on Queen Street.

This celebration of cuisine and culture creates an immersive experience for cruise passengers and locals alike and features vendors selling authentic Turks and Caicos Islands cuisine, Made in TCI gifts and live performances.

Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands – The Turks and Caicos Hotel and Tourism Association (TCHTA) proudly announces the commendable achievements of its national culinary team and delegation at the recent ‘Taste of the Caribbean’ competition and the Caribbean Hotel Industry Exchange Forum (CHIEF), both held from November 18-20, 2024, at Florida International University’s Kovens Conference Center.

TEAM TCI, made up of a four-member culinary team showcased exceptional talent and creativity, medaling once again in the Caribbean National Team category. Their performance highlighted the rich gastronomic heritage of the Turks and Caicos Islands.

Stacy Cox, CEO of the TCHTA, expressed her pride, stating, “Our team’s success at Turks and Caicos is no surprise. Every individual put their heart and soul into their performance on this regional stage, and they left their mark. We are exceptionally proud of them.”

The team – Kenyatta Forbes of The Palms, Andre Maragh of Seven Stars Resort, Ronel Charles of Seven Stars Resort, and TCHTA Lit’l Chef medallist, Gabrielle Martin – were all newcomers to the competition stage and held their own in true Team TCI style with training from their senior mentors Executive Chefs Edwin Gallardo (Seven Stars) and Rajasekar Ravindran (The Hartling Group), and under the leadership of Chef Charles Joseph (“Chef CJ”), a past competitor and Gold medallist.

Reflecting on Chef CJ’s first bout as team leader, Executive Chef Gallardo shared, “My heart was full watching Chef CJ step up in this way. He has taken everything he has experienced as a mentee, a private chef, and a past competitor and guided this young team with a discipline, structure, and complete support. He is a shining example of the growth and potential we have in the culinary community here.”

The team now joins the inaugural group of Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association Regional Culinary Ambassadors, providing them more access to training, opportunities and exposure. TEAM TCI has a distinguished history at ‘Taste of the Caribbean,’ including multiple gold medals and individual accolades such as Hall of Fame inductions in the Pastry Chef of the Year and Junior Chef categories.

‘Taste’ made its return for the first time since the pandemic alongside the premier educational forum for Caribbean hospitality and tourism professionals, CHIEF. A robust group of industry stakeholders attended the event, with Turks and Caicos taking center stage at three of the event’s sessions: Stacy Cox moderated the sessions “Wellness Matters: Prioritizing Mental Health and Well-being for Guests and Staff” and “Authentic Engagement: Leveraging Social Media to Immerse and Inspire”, while Karen Whitt, CHTA 1st Vice President and TCHTA Marketing Chair, led “Real Revenue Strategies: Maximizing Profit through Authentic Offerings”.

The annual event focused on best practices, operational excellence, and strategic planning to enhance the region’s hospitality sector. The TCHTA delegation engaged with industry leaders, discussing sustainable tourism practices, investment opportunities, and innovative strategies to bolster the Turks and Caicos tourism industry.

Watching updates and live streams shared via social media, the Turks and Caicos community followed the delegation’s activities and celebrated along with them.

The TCHTA is thankful to The Shore Club, Seven Stars, Beaches, Parallel 23, Sui-Ren, Grace Bay Club, Point Grace, Rock House, and Skyline Distributors. These TCHTA members are sponsors of the Taste of Tapas fundraiser which allows the culinary team to travel and take part in this opportunity.

About ‘Taste of the Caribbean’:

Organized by the Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Association, ‘Taste of the Caribbean’ is an annual event that brings together culinary teams from across the region to compete, share, and celebrate Caribbean gastronomy.

About the Caribbean Hotel Investment Conference & Operations Summit (CHIEF):

CHIEF is the premier educational forum for Caribbean hospitality and tourism professionals, focusing on best practices, operational excellence, and strategic planning to enhance the region’s hospitality sector.

About Turks & Caicos Hotel and Tourism Association (TCHTA):

The TCHTA is the voice of the Turks & Caicos tourism and hospitality sector, championing sustainable growth, professional development, and the prosperity of our islands. Our strategic initiatives underscore our commitment to establishing Turks & Caicos as a world-class destination while fostering a community of service, innovation, and inclusivity.

Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands – The Turks & Caicos Hotel and Tourism Association (TCHTA) led by Stacy Cox, CEO and members of the board held an open and constructive meeting with board members of the Turks and Caicos Bankers Association.

The discussion focused on inclusive and accessibility of banking services in the evolving needs of the community.  “As we continue to advocate for our members, it was important to share concerns which impact businesses, residents and overall service. The dialogue was positive and encouraging to hear strategic investments are in place to ensure that the financial sector keeps pace with the needs of our dynamic and growing economy,” share Cox.

The meeting was quite fruitful, with several updates provided by the Bankers’ Association on upgrades to key services including:

• Introduction of a Clearing System in TCI
• Same-Day Account Opening.
• Online Account Opening
• Queue Flow Digital System
• International Funds Transfer
• Digitalization Efforts Across All Banks.

The topic of ABMs/ATMs were also discussed, and key highlights included the need for continued public education campaigns focused on the benefits of treating the ABM/ATM with care as many malfunctions occur when cheques are deposited with foreign items.  The Banker’s Association began the journey to combat this through programs such as the annual financial literacy program which offers tips on banking processes in TCI. 2025 celebrates three years of this initiative.

The TCHTA is encouraged as the Banker’s Association continues to place further attention on key areas, including:

• The strategic placement of additional ATMs in high-demand locations across the Turks and Caicos Islands, particularly in South Caicos, Grand Turk and North Caicos.
• The expansion of banking services in key markets.
• Enhancements in customer service delivery.
• Simplification of transactional processes.

Colin Sterling, Chair of the TCHTA’s Finance Committee, encouraged ongoing dialogue as collaborative practices between the collective groups bodes well in the sustainable growth of the economy.

The TCHTA and the Banker’s Association has committed to follow-up meetings in 2025.