PRESS RELEASE

PROVIDENCIALES, TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS – (April 24th, 2026): The Turks and Caicos Islands recorded a five percent increase in stayover arrivals for the first quarter of 2026, compared to the same period in 2025, continuing a trend of steady growth in visitor demand.

From January to March 2026, the destination welcomed 203,587 stayover visitors, an increase of 10,557 arrivals over the first quarter of 2025.

March, traditionally the strongest month for stayover arrivals, delivered solid performance, with preliminary figures indicating 79,813 visitors. This represents a three percent increase over March 2025.

“Our first quarter performance reflects the continued strength of the Turks and Caicos Islands as a high-demand, high-value destination. We have been deliberate in strengthening our presence across key markets, deepening our engagement with travel advisors, and maintaining strong international visibility,” said Minister of Tourism, Hon Zhavargo Jolly.

“At the same time, we have taken decisive steps to strengthen the safety and stability of our islands, and we are seeing the results of that work. That matters—not just for our residents, but for every visitor who chooses the Turks and Caicos Islands. Our focus now is on sustaining this momentum, increasing the value we derive from each visitor, and continuing to position the Turks and Caicos Islands as one of the most desirable and well-managed destinations in the region.”

In the cruise sector, the first quarter of 2026 saw 344,287 passenger arrivals, representing a 16 percent decline compared to the same period last year. Preliminary figures for March 2026 indicate 116,911 cruise passengers, a seven percent decrease year-on-year, despite an additional ship call during the month.

Looking ahead to the second and third quarters, Experience Turks and Caicos remains focused on sustaining both visitor arrivals and on-island spend amid a dynamic global environment. Recent marketing initiatives include a collaboration with TravelView to produce destination-focused videos distributed to more than 80,000 travel advisors in the United States, the destination’s largest source market.

In the United Kingdom, the destination has been actively engaging travel advisors through programmes such as UNITE Caribbean, where participating travel groups have reported increased bookings to the Turks and Caicos Islands. In Canada and Latin America, efforts have been intensified through participation in key trade shows and expanded outreach to the travel trade.

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.

PROVIDENCIALES, TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS: Experience Turks and Caicos is pleased to announce that the Turks and Caicos Islands has been nominated in nine categories in the 2026 World Travel Awards.

These nominations once again underscore the destination’s strength in offering a diverse and high-quality tourism product across our multi-island landscape.

The Turks and Caicos Islands has been nominated in the following categories:

• Caribbean’s Leading Beach Destination
• Caribbean’s Leading Cruise Destination
• Caribbean’s Leading Destination
• Caribbean’s Leading Dive Destination
• Caribbean’s Leading Family Travel Destination
• Caribbean’s Leading Honeymoon Destination
• Caribbean’s Leading Luxury Island Destination
• Caribbean’s Leading Tourist Board
• Caribbean’s Most Romantic Destination

Interim CEO Consultant, Mr. Paul Pennicook, welcomed the nominations.

“The World Travel Awards is widely regarded as one of the most prestigious recognition programmes in global tourism, and the Turks and Caicos Islands has consistently featured among its top honourees. We are delighted to see our destination recognised across key niche areas, which speaks to the dedication of our stakeholders and partners in strengthening and elevating our tourism offerings,” he said.

The Turks and Caicos Islands has won the Caribbean’s Leading Beach Destination award for 11 consecutive years and has also secured the Caribbean’s Most Romantic Destination title for seven consecutive years.

Voting is now open across all regions, with both industry professionals and consumers invited to cast their votes. To participate, visit https://www.worldtravelawards.com/vote and register to vote.