Dana Malcolm
Staff Writer
The Ministry of Tourism is recouping its investment in European advertising as the country is seeing a marked increase in interest from visitors from that continent, according to the Ministry’s Quarterly Report shared with media on Friday, April 5.
Ticket purchases from the UK between January to August 2024 have increased by 54 percent, or over 2,800 more passengers. Nearly every other European destination also recorded upticks.
France is expected to contribute 761 visitors, a 13 percent increase,followed by Italy with 513 passengers (a slight decrease of 11 percent), and Germany, with 436 passengers, a jump of 55 percent.
Other areas with increases were Switzerland, Ireland, Spain, The Netherlands, Iceland, Czechia, Denmark, and Poland. Only Belgium and Italy recorded downturns.
The TCI has a foothold in North America, with the majority of its overnight guests coming in from the US, where direct flights are abundant, and Canada. The local government has expressed serious interest in breaking into the luxury tourism market in Europe.
Reflecting the increase more and more visitors are coming by air already,
“In January, we witnessed a substantial increase, with 689 flights—an impressive 3.5% rise compared to the same period in the previous year. February continued this trend, with 666 commercial flights, marking a remarkable 15% year-over-year increase. March further solidified this growth pattern, boasting 761 commercial flights, showcasing a commendable 16% year-over-year surge,” the ministry explained.
By the end of 2024, the country is expecting to welcome 7420 flights which would be a 4.4% increase over 2023. Whether it is ready for those numbers to pass through its beleaguered airport is another matter as travellers constantly complain about the congestion.
In an attempt to plan for this boom and its effect, a Tourism Capacity Carrying Study is also ongoing. The study will predict what the next 10 years in the Turks and Caicos will look like regarding tourism and how it may affect local life.
Using data from various sources to generate new insights, the study is supposed to provide a comprehensive understanding of the impact of the industry on the country.
Three models were developed for the three clear geographical areas where tourists are concentrated: Providenciales, Grand Turk and the Other Islands (North Caicos, Middle Caicos, South Caicos and Salt Cay).
Each model had specific targets.
In Providenciales, the focus will be on providing affordable housing for workers, sustainable urbanization of the destination, enhancement of regulations about the short-term rental of apartments, and houses in the tourism sector plus land use, particularly about tourism infrastructures and facilities.
For Grand Turk, the cruise capital, with little stayover capacity, the important areas are the preservation of the cultural heritage, housing and tourism infrastructures and land use.
“The aim is to ensure that the cultural heritage of the island is not compromised by population growth and tourism development,” the MoT said.
Finally for the ‘Other Islands’ emphasis is placed on managing human impact on natural resources, the provision of desalination plants, and protecting the flora and fauna.
The capacity carrying report will be provided to the public when complete.
